Being a world-famous athlete is no easy feat. Add in motherhood, and the juggling act gets even trickier. Just ask tennis legend, Naomi Osaka.
In a new interview with Hello! Magazine, the four-time Grand Slam champion got honest about what it’s really like to navigate life as a working mom and she didn’t sugarcoat a thing.
“My career requires me to travel for most of the year, which makes it tough when I have to be away from my daughter so frequently, but I’ve got such a great support system around,” the 27-year-old told the publication. “It takes a village, and I truly couldn’t do it without mine.”
She continued, “Motherhood has definitely given me a broader perspective on life. Kids require so much patience, and I’ve definitely learned to be more patient through my daughter,” adding, “I have a great team around me, and they are there with me during the highs and lows.”
Osaka and her ex-partner Cordae welcomed their daughter Shai in July 2023. Although the couple announced their breakup in early 2025, the tennis icon says they’ve built a solid co-parenting foundation.
“We built a really good foundation,” Osaka recently told InStyle in an interview. “I don’t know if it’s because he’s just an easygoing guy, but I think we just respect each other’s opinions. And if we disagree on something, we talk it out. At the end of the day, we both want what’s best for Shai.”
Even with a demanding global schedule and the challenges of co-parenting, Osaka says motherhood has shifted her perspective for the better.
“Kids require so much patience, and I’ve definitely learned to be more patient through my daughter,” she told Hello!. “I have a great team around me, and they are there with me during the highs and lows.”
It’s not lost on Naomi, or any mom,that parenting can feel like a high-stakes balancing act. But with grace, honesty, and the right village, Osaka is showing us all that it’s possible to chase your dreams and show up for your child in all the ways that matter.
Photo Credit: Naomi Osaka Instagram
