Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka turned professional in September 2013 at age 15, skipping much of the junior circuit to focus on pro events, influenced by her father's training regimen modeled after Richard Williams' approach with Venus and Serena Williams. Her father, a Haitian immigrant, had never played tennis but coached her and her sister Mari rigorously. Osaka quickly progressed, climbing from WTA No. 406 to No. 250 in her first pro year and qualifying for Wimbledon and the US Open in 2015. Her breakthrough came in 2018 with her first WTA title at the Indian Wells Open, followed by a stunning US Open victory over Serena Williams, marking her first Grand Slam. She defended her form with the 2019 Australian Open win, briefly reaching world No. 1, and added the 2020 US Open and 2021 Australian Open titles, going undefeated in those four Grand Slam finals. Osaka amassed seven career singles titles by 2025, four at majors, establishing her as a hard-court dominant force with a calm demeanor under pressure. Osaka stepped back amid mental health discussions and the COVID-19 pandemic, playing only four events in 2020 but winning two. In 2022, she co-founded Evolve agency with Stuart Duguid, signing clients like Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka, though she departed in late 2025, expressing optimism for future plans. After giving birth, she returned in 2024, winning her first post-maternity title in May 2025, reaching the Canadian Open final and US Open semifinals, and finishing 2025 ranked No. 16.