History of Naomi Osaka in Timeline

Naomi Osaka is a highly successful Japanese professional tennis player, achieving the world No. 1 ranking in women's singles for 25 weeks starting in January 2019, making her the first Asian player to reach this milestone. She has secured seven career singles titles, including four Grand Slam victories: two at the Australian Open and two at the US Open. Notably, she is the first Japanese player ever to win a major singles title, solidifying her place in tennis history.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1933: Securities Act of 1933 Extends to Targeted Solicitation

In February 2022, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a lawsuit against Bitconnect that the Securities Act of 1933 extends to targeted solicitation using social media.

1994: Last US Open Comeback Win

In 1994, was the last time a player won a US Open women's singles final from a set down before Osaka did it in 2020.

1995: Japanese Player in Pan Pacific Open Final

In 1995, Kimiko Date was the last Japanese player before Naomi Osaka in 2016 to reach the final at the Pan Pacific Open.

October 16, 1997: Naomi Osaka's Birth

On October 16, 1997, Naomi Osaka, a Japanese professional tennis player, was born.

Others born on this day/year

1999: Inspiration from Williams Sisters

In 1999, Naomi Osaka's father was inspired to teach his daughters tennis after watching the Williams sisters compete at the French Open.

2001: Jennifer Capriati Wins Consecutive Grand Slam

In 2001, Jennifer Capriati was the last player to follow up her first Grand Slam singles title with another at the next such event before Naomi Osaka in 2019.

2001: Williams Sisters Boycott Incident

In 2001, an incident at the Indian Wells Open led the Williams sisters to boycott the tournament for 13 years, an event Naomi Osaka referenced after being heckled at the 2022 tournament.

2001: Japan's Appearance at the Hopman Cup

In 2018, Naomi Osaka made her Hopman Cup debut with Yūichi Sugita, marking Japan's first appearance at the tournament since 2001.

2006: Move to Florida for Training

In 2006, when Naomi Osaka was about eight years old, her family moved to Florida to provide better training opportunities for her and her sister.

2008: Yonex Racket Sponsorship

Since 2008, the Japanese sporting equipment manufacturer Yonex has supplied Naomi Osaka with rackets. She plays with the Yonex Ezone 98 racket.

October 2011: First Qualifying Match

In October 2011, on her 14th birthday, Naomi Osaka played her first qualifying match on the ITF Women's Circuit.

2012: First Semifinal

In 2012, Naomi Osaka's best result of the season was at a 10k event in Amelia Island, where she lost to her sister in the semifinals.

June 2013: First 25k Level Final

In June 2013, Naomi Osaka reached her first final at the 25k level ITF Circuit event in El Paso, Texas.

September 2013: Turned Professional

In September 2013, shortly before her 16th birthday, Naomi Osaka turned professional and entered her first WTA Tour qualifying draws.

2013: First ITF Final

In 2013, coached by Patrick Tauma, Naomi Osaka reached her first ITF final.

March 2014: Second 25k Level Final

In March 2014, Naomi Osaka reached another final at the 25k level ITF Circuit event in Irapuato, Mexico, securing a victory over her sister Mari.

2014: Training with Harold Solomon's Academy

In 2014, Naomi Osaka spent seven months training at an academy run by Harold Solomon, where she defeated Sam Stosur for her first WTA match win.

2014: WTA Tour Debut

In 2014, Naomi Osaka, at the age of 16, made her WTA Tour debut and gained prominence by defeating former US Open champion Samantha Stosur at the Stanford Classic.

2014: First WTA Main Draw and Upset Victory

In the summer of 2014, Naomi Osaka qualified for her first WTA Tour main draw at the Stanford Classic, upsetting world No. 19, Samantha Stosur.

2015: Rising in Rankings and Exhibition Win

In 2015, Naomi Osaka continued to improve her rankings, reaching two high-level finals and winning the Rising Stars Invitational at the WTA Finals by defeating Caroline Garcia.

2015: Serena Williams Wins Consecutive Major Titles

In 2015, Serena Williams was the last woman to win consecutive major singles titles before Naomi Osaka in 2019.

2015: First Appearance in a Tournament Below Tour-Level Since 2015

In 2025 at the Madrid Open, after an early loss, Naomi Osaka entered the minor-league Challenger Tour WTA 125 Open de Saint-Malo tournament, marking her first appearance in a tournament below Tour-level since 2015.

2016: Loss to Madison Keys at US Open

In 2016, Naomi Osaka had a tough loss to Madison Keys at the US Open.

2016: First WTA Final

In 2016, Naomi Osaka reached her first WTA final at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and entered the top 50 of the WTA rankings.

2016: New Coach David Taylor

In 2016, following her loss at the US Open, the Japan Tennis Association helped arrange for David Taylor to be her new coach.

2016: First Career WTA Final at Pan Pacific Open

In 2016, one of the first instances where Naomi Osaka's strategy of winning long rallies proved successful was when she made her first career WTA final at the Pan Pacific Open.

2016: IMG Representation

Since 2016, Naomi Osaka has been represented by the IMG management company.

2017: Switch to Coach Sascha Bajin

After the 2017 season, Naomi Osaka switched coaches to Sascha Bajin, who had previously served as a hitting partner to top players.

2017: Hiring Sascha Bajin as Coach

In 2017, Naomi Osaka hired Sascha Bajin to be her coach during the off-season.

2017: Fed Cup Debut for Japan

In 2017, Naomi Osaka made her Fed Cup debut for Japan while the team competed in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I. Japan won all nine of their rubbers to advance out of their round-robin pool, but lost in the play-off against Kazakhstan.

2017: Steady Ranking

In 2017, Naomi Osaka maintained a steady ranking without significant improvement, ending the year ranked No. 68.

2018: WTA Coach of the Year for Sascha Bajin

In 2018, Bajin was named the inaugural WTA Coach of the Year.

2018: Breakthrough Season Mental Improvements

In 2018, Naomi Osaka credited improving her mental approach and cutting down on unforced errors for her breakthrough season. She attributed some of these changes to her coach Sascha Bajin.

2018: Hopman Cup Debut

In 2018, Naomi Osaka made her Hopman Cup debut with Yūichi Sugita, marking Japan's first appearance at the tournament since 2001. They lost all three of their ties.

2018: First Tour Title and US Open Win

In 2018, Naomi Osaka won her first Tour title at the Indian Wells Open and defeated Serena Williams in the final of the US Open.

2018: US Open Victory Over Serena Williams

In 2018, Naomi Osaka won her first major title at the US Open, defeating Serena Williams in a match marred by controversy.

2018: Return to the Team

In 2018, with Naomi Osaka absent, Japan defeated Kazakhstan to advance to the 2018 World Group II Play-offs. Osaka returned to the team and won her opening match against Heather Watson. Japan earned promotion to World Group II.

2018: Struggling With Depression

Since 2018, Naomi Osaka has lived with depression, starting after the US Open.

January 2019: Ranked World No. 1

In January 2019, Naomi Osaka was ranked as the world No. 1 in women's singles by the WTA, holding the top ranking for 25 weeks and becoming the first Asian player to achieve this milestone.

2019: Naomi Osaka Ranked World's Number 1

In 2019 Naomi Osaka had a world ranking as number 1

2019: Began Relationship with Cordae

In 2019, Naomi Osaka began a relationship with American rapper Cordae (then YBN Cordae).

2019: Endorsement Earnings in 2019

In 2019, Naomi Osaka earned an estimated $16 million in endorsements alone, placing her second among female athletes behind Serena Williams.

2019: Return to Grass Courts

In 2019, Naomi Osaka returned to grass courts for the first time since 2019 at 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. She defeated Elise Mertens in the first round and reached the quarterfinals before losing to Bianca Andreescu. At Wimbledon, she lost to Emma Navarro in the second round.

2019: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2019, Naomi Osaka was included on Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

2019: Named to Time 100 List

In 2019, Naomi Osaka was named to the Time 100 list for representing professional tennis well as an excellent role model and a major champion.

2019: Nike Sponsorship

In 2019, Nike became Naomi Osaka's apparel sponsor, replacing Adidas.

2019: Promotion to World Group II

In 2019, after Japan's victory in the 2018 World Group II Play-offs, they earned promotion to World Group II.

2019: Australian Open Win and World No. 1 Ranking

In early 2019, Naomi Osaka won the Australian Open, reaching the world No. 1 ranking for the first time.

2019: Split with Sascha Bajin and Hiring Jermaine Jenkins

Shortly after her 2019 Australian Open title, Naomi Osaka split with Sascha Bajin and hired Jermaine Jenkins to be her new coach from March until October.

December 2020: Manga Series Debut

In December 2020, the first edition of a manga series featuring Naomi Osaka as the main character appeared in the February 2021 issue of Nakayoshi magazine, published by Kodansha.

2020: Lost in Third Round at Olympics

At the 2020 Olympics, Naomi Osaka lost in the third round.

2020: Hiring Wim Fissette as coach

At the start of the 2020 season Naomi hired Wim Fissette as coach.

2020: Highest-Paid Female Athlete of All Time

In 2020, Naomi Osaka became the highest-paid female athlete of all time, earning $37.4 million, including $34 million in endorsements.

2020: Activism and Recognition

In 2020, Naomi Osaka ranked eighth among athletes in endorsement income, becoming the highest-earning female athlete. She supported the Black Lives Matter protests and was named one of the Sports Illustrated Sportspersons of the Year. Also, she was included on Time's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

2020: Named Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year and Time 100 Most Influential People

In 2020, Naomi Osaka was named a Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year for her activism alongside other prominent athletes. She was also honored as one of the Time 100 most influential people in the world in 2020 for her activism.

2020: Activism in Professional Tennis

In 2020, Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Cincinnati Open to raise awareness for the shooting of Jacob Blake, leading to the postponement of ATP and WTA matches. At the US Open, she wore masks with the names of African Americans killed by police. She also attended protests for the murder of George Floyd.

2020: US Open Victory

In 2020, Naomi Osaka won the US Open, becoming the first player since 1994 to win the women's singles final after coming from a set down.

2020: Renouncing American Citizenship

In 2020, Naomi Osaka, a dual citizen of Japan and the United States, renounced her American citizenship to represent Japan at the Olympics.

January 2021: Brand Ambassador for Tag Heuer and Louis Vuitton

In January 2021, Naomi Osaka was named the brand ambassador for Tag Heuer watches and Louis Vuitton, and she appeared in their Spring-Summer 2021 campaign.

March 2021: Osaka Speaks Out Against Anti-Asian Hate Crimes

In March 2021, Naomi Osaka spoke out against anti-Asian hate crimes, raising awareness and showing support.

May 2021: French Open Press Conference Controversy

In May 2021, Naomi Osaka refused to participate in required press conferences during the French Open, leading to a $15,000 fine and threats of expulsion, then withdrew from the event.

June 2021: Panasonic Brand Ambassador

In June 2021, Panasonic announced the signing of Naomi Osaka as a brand ambassador for the "Panasonic Green Impact" initiative.

September 2021: US Open Loss and Indefinite Break

In September 2021, at the US Open, Naomi Osaka lost to Leylah Fernandez. During the match, she displayed frustration and later announced she was taking an indefinite break from tennis and started therapy.

2021: Contract with IMG Expired

At the end of 2021, Naomi Osaka's contract with IMG expired, after six years of representation.

2021: Became Co-Owner of North Carolina Courage

In 2021, Naomi Osaka became a co-owner of the North Carolina Courage in the National Women's Soccer League.

2021: Mental Health Struggles and Retirement

In 2021, Naomi Osaka experienced depression and other issues, leading to her retirement from the French Open and withdrawal from Wimbledon.

2021: Tokyo Olympics

In 2021, Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. Ranked 2nd in the world, she lost in the 3rd round to Markéta Vondroušová.

2021: Miami Open Final

In 2021, Naomi Osaka reached her first final since the 2021 Australian Open at the Miami Open, defeating Belinda Bencic in the semifinals. Ranked 77th, she became the lowest-ranked finalist in the tournament's history but lost to Iga Świątek in the final.

2021: Laureus Award and Olympic Cauldron Lighting

In 2021, Naomi Osaka was the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year and became the first tennis player to light the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

2021: Second Australian Open Title

In 2021, Naomi Osaka won her second Australian Open title, achieving straight-set wins in multiple matches and defeating Jennifer Brady in the final.

2021: First Title Since 2021 Australian Open

Naomi Osaka achieved her first title since the 2021 Australian Open at the WTA 125 Open de Saint-Malo tournament, marking her first tournament victory on clay.

February 2022: Ruling in Lawsuit Against Bitconnect

In February 2022, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a lawsuit against Bitconnect that the Securities Act of 1933 extends to targeted solicitation using social media.

May 2022: Forms Sports Agency, Evolve

In May 2022, Naomi Osaka announced that she and her agent, Stuart Duguid, would form their own sports agency, Evolve, with equity stakes in the new agency.

May 2022: Mental Health Journey

In May 2022, Naomi Osaka stated that while there have been ups and downs, she feels very content with her mental health journey.

June 20, 2022: Signed Nick Kyrgios as First Client

On June 20, 2022, Naomi Osaka announced that she had signed Nick Kyrgios as her first client at her new sports agency, Evolve.

September 2022: Return to Professional Tennis

In September 2022, Naomi Osaka returned to professional tennis at the Brisbane International, marking her first professional match since September 2022. She defeated Tamara Korpatsch in the first round but lost to Karolína Plíšková in the second round.

2022: Launched Hana Kuma Media Company

In 2022, Naomi Osaka and Stuart Duguid launched Hana Kuma, a media and production company, initially in partnership with TheSpringHill Company.

2022: Setting up Evolve Agency

In 2022, Naomi Osaka left IMG to set up her own sports management agency, Evolve, alongside her agent, Stuart Duguid.

2022: Furthest Major Advancement Since 2022 Australian Open

In 2025, Naomi Osaka's advancement to the third round of the Australian Open marked her furthest progression in a major tournament since the 2022 Australian Open.

January 2023: Pregnancy Announcement

In January 2023, Naomi Osaka revealed she was pregnant with her first child with Cordae, shortly after withdrawing from the Australian Open.

July 7, 2023: Welcomed Baby Girl

On July 7, 2023, Naomi Osaka welcomed a healthy baby girl with Cordae.

2023: Hana Kuma Spun Off Independently

After a $5 million fundraising round, Hana Kuma, the media and production company founded by Naomi Osaka and Stuart Duguid, spun off independently in 2023.

2023: Investment in Professional Pickleball Team

In 2023, Naomi Osaka became an investor in a professional pickleball team based in Miami, Florida.

2023: Maternity Leave

In 2023, Naomi Osaka took maternity leave from professional tennis.

January 2024: Aimed for Tennis Return

In January 2024, Naomi Osaka had hoped to return to tennis at the Australian Open after giving birth.

September 13, 2024: End of Coaching Relationship with Wim Fissette

On September 13, 2024, Naomi Osaka announced the end of her coaching relationship with Wim Fissette.

September 2024: Patrick Mouratoglou as Coach

In September 2024, Naomi Osaka added Patrick Mouratoglou as her coach.

2024: Paris Olympics First Round Loss

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Naomi Osaka lost in the first round to Angelique Kerber, who was playing in the final tournament of her career.

2024: Hana Kuma Partners with LPGA

In 2024, Hana Kuma announced a partnership with the LPGA to create a brand building program for female golfers.

2024: Withdrawal from Australian Open

In 2024, Naomi Osaka announced her withdrawal from the Australian Open due to expecting her first child with rapper Cordae. She confirmed she would return for the 2024 Australian Open and announced her return at the 2024 Brisbane International.

2024: Return to Competition

In 2024, Naomi Osaka returned to professional tennis competition after maternity leave.

January 6, 2025: Osaka and Cordae End Relationship

On January 6, 2025, Naomi Osaka announced that she and Cordae were no longer in a relationship.

2025: Auckland Open Final and Australian Open

In 2025, Naomi Osaka reached her first final since 2022 at the Auckland Open but retired due to injury. At the 2025 Australian Open, she advanced to the third round before retiring, improving her ranking to world No. 42.

2025: Coached by Tomasz Wiktorowski

In mid-2025, Naomi Osaka started being coached by Tomasz Wiktorowski, who previously coached Iga Świątek.

January 2026: Withdrawal from the 2026 Australian Open

On January 24, 2026, Naomi Osaka withdrew from the 2026 Australian Open due to an abdominal injury.

2026: Season Start at United Cup 2026

In 2026, Naomi Osaka began her season playing for Japan at the United Cup. She lost to Maria Sakkari of Greece but defeated Katie Swan of Great Britain. Japan ultimately lost at the group stage.