Naomi Osaka
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, every school day The Cardinal will feature a prominent and historical Asian American or Pacific Islander, living or dead, who has worked toward change, advancement, and/or world peace. Some of them are heroes, and some are unsung heroes, who deserve recognition, and have made a contribution to society.
May 24, 2023
Naomi Osaka was born on October 16t, 1997 in Osaka, Japan to a Haitian father and a Japanese mother. At age 3, Naomi’s family moved from Japan to New York where her father was inspired to teach her how to play tennis after watching the famous Williams sisters compete in 1999. Starting at age 16, Naomi decided that she would represent Japan rather than the US, as her Japanese culture was very important to her. After this, she continued to compete against some of the biggest names in tennis such as Venus and Serena Williams. Since 2018 Naomi Osaka has continued to make a name for herself with several victories throughout her career. She has won four grand slams, and has even been ranked as the world’s number 1 singles player by the Women’s Tennis Association. Not only that, but she is the first Asian woman to hold the first place ranking in tennis singles. At the young age of 25, Osaka continues to be the first woman, since Serena Williams, to achieve such rankings. Naomi is also a big advocate of activism and has showcased support for women’s rights and the Black Lives Matter movement. Naomi Osaka has been amazing representation for Asian women and will continue to do so for a long time.
