History of Naomi Osaka in Timeline
Naomi Osaka is a Japanese professional tennis player who has been ranked world No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), making her the first Asian player to achieve this feat. She is a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, having won two Australian Open titles and two US Open titles. Notably, Osaka won her first two major titles consecutively at the 2018 US Open and the 2019 Australian Open, making her the first woman to do so since Serena Williams in 2015 and the first to win her first two major titles consecutively since Jennifer Capriati in 2001. Osaka also has seven titles on the WTA Tour, including two at the Premier Mandatory level.
1933: Securities Act of 1933
The Securities Act of 1933 was extended to cover targeted solicitation using social media, as ruled by the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in February 2022.
1995: Naomi Osaka's Early Tennis Breakthrough
In 1995, Naomi Osaka made a significant early breakthrough in her tennis career. She became the first Japanese player to contest the final at the Pan Pacific Open since Kimiko Date in 1995. This achievement marked a notable moment in her early career, setting the stage for future successes.
October 16, 1997: Birth of Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka was born on October 16, 1997. She would go on to become a Japanese professional tennis player and the first Asian player to be ranked world No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).
1999: Inspiration from Williams Sisters
In 1999, Naomi Osaka's father was inspired to teach his daughters how to play tennis by watching the Williams sisters compete at the French Open.
2001: Japan's Last Hopman Cup Appearance
In 2001, Japan made its last appearance at the Hopman Cup before returning in 2018 with Naomi Osaka on the team.
2001: First to Win First Two Majors in Successive Tournaments Since Jennifer Capriati
In 2001, Jennifer Capriati was the last player before Naomi Osaka to win her first two major titles in successive tournaments. Osaka matched this achievement in 2019 with her wins at the US Open and Australian Open.
2001: Comparisons to Past Heckling at Indian Wells
Naomi Osaka's emotional response to being heckled during the 2021 Indian Wells Open match drew comparisons to a similar incident in 2001 that led the Williams sisters to boycott the tournament for 13 years.
2006: Move to Florida for Better Training Opportunities
In 2006, Naomi Osaka's family moved to Florida to provide her with better tennis training opportunities. She practiced on public courts during the day and was homeschooled at night.
2008: Yonex Racket Sponsorship
Since 2008, Naomi Osaka has been sponsored by Yonex for her rackets. She currently plays with the Yonex Ezone 98 racket, equipped with Polytour Pro 125 and Rexis 130 strings.
October 2011: First Qualifying Match on ITF Women's Circuit
In October 2011, on her 14th birthday, Naomi Osaka played her first qualifying match on the ITF Women's Circuit.
2012: Best Result of the Season
In 2012, Naomi Osaka's best result came at a $10k event in Amelia Island, where she reached the semifinals but lost to her sister.
June 2013: First ITF Finals at $25K Level
In June 2013, Naomi Osaka reached her first ITF finals at the $25K level in El Paso, Texas.
September 2013: Turned Professional
In September 2013, shortly before turning 16, Naomi Osaka turned professional and entered her first two qualifying draws on the WTA Tour at the Challenge Bell in Quebec and the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
2013: First ITF Final
In 2013, under the coaching of Patrick Tauma, Naomi Osaka reached her first ITF final, marking an early milestone in her career.
March 2014: ITF Final in Irapuato, Mexico
In March 2014, Naomi Osaka reached an ITF final in Irapuato, Mexico, where she defeated her sister Mari.
2014: Defeats Samantha Stosur in WTA Tour Debut
In 2014, Naomi Osaka came to prominence at age 16 by defeating former US Open champion Samantha Stosur in her WTA Tour debut at the Stanford Classic.
2014: Training at Harold Solomon Tennis Academy
In 2014, Naomi Osaka moved to the Harold Solomon Tennis Academy to further her training.
2014: First WTA Tour Main Draw
In 2014, Naomi Osaka qualified for her first WTA Tour main draw at the Stanford Classic, where she defeated world No. 19, Samantha Stosur.
2014: Training with Harold Solomon
In 2014, Naomi Osaka spent seven months training at an academy run by Harold Solomon. Under his coaching, she achieved her first WTA match win by defeating Sam Stosur.
2015: Rising Stars Invitational Winner
In October 2015, during the WTA Finals, Naomi Osaka won the Rising Stars Invitational by defeating Caroline Garcia in the final. She also reached the finals at the $75k Kangaroo Cup and the $50k Surbiton Trophy, finishing the year ranked No. 144.
2015: First Woman to Win Successive Major Titles Since Serena Williams
In 2015, Serena Williams was the last woman before Naomi Osaka to win successive major singles titles. Osaka achieved this feat in 2019 at the Australian Open.
2016: Representation by IMG
In 2016, Naomi Osaka began her representation by the IMG management company, marking a significant step in managing her professional career.
2016: Close Match Against Madison Keys
In 2016, Naomi Osaka had a notable match against Madison Keys at the US Open. Despite leading 5–1 in the third set, she ultimately lost in a tiebreak. This match marked a significant moment in her career, showcasing her potential and resilience.
2016: First Career WTA Final
In 2016, Naomi Osaka made her first career WTA final at the Pan Pacific Open. This event marked one of the first notable instances where her aggressive baseline playing style and ability to win long rallies contributed to her success.
2016: First WTA Final
In 2016, Naomi Osaka reached her first WTA final at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, which helped her enter the top 50 of the WTA rankings.
2016: New Coaching Arrangement
Following her loss at the 2016 US Open where she could not convert a 5–1 lead in the third set, the Japan Tennis Association helped Naomi Osaka arrange for David Taylor to be her new coach.
2017: Coaching Change to Sascha Bajin
After the 2017 season, Naomi Osaka switched coaches to Sascha Bajin. Under his guidance, she won her first Premier Mandatory title and two Grand Slam singles titles, and rose to No. 1 in the world.
2017: Fed Cup Debut
In 2017, Naomi Osaka made her Fed Cup debut for Japan. The team, competing in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I, won all nine of their rubbers to advance out of their round-robin pool. Although Osaka won her singles match in the play-off against Kazakhstan, the team lost their other two matches and was not able to advance.
2017: Steady Ranking Throughout 2017
In 2017, despite not achieving a new career-high ranking, Naomi Osaka maintained a steady position in the WTA rankings. Her ranking fluctuated between No. 44 and No. 68, ending the year at No. 68. This consistency highlighted her resilience and ability to stay competitive throughout the season.
2017: Coaching Change and Performance Boost
In the off-season of 2017, Naomi Osaka hired Sascha Bajin as her coach. This partnership led to a career-best result at a major event, as she reached the fourth round of the Australian Open by defeating top-20 players Elena Vesnina and Ashleigh Barty. This performance helped her return to the top 50 in the WTA rankings within a month.
2018: First Major Titles and Historic Wins
In 2018, Naomi Osaka won her first major titles at the US Open and the Indian Wells Open. She became the first Japanese player to win a major singles title by defeating Serena Williams in the US Open final.
2018: Living with Depression
Naomi Osaka has lived with depression since the 2018 US Open.
2018: Fed Cup Victory
In 2018, with Naomi Osaka absent, Japan was able to defeat Kazakhstan in the Fed Cup to advance to the 2018 World Group II Play-offs. In this stage, they hosted Great Britain in a usual five rubber tie. Osaka returned to the team and won her opening match against Heather Watson but lost her next rubber to Johanna Konta. However, Kurumi Nara defeated Watson, leading Japan to win the final rubber and earn promotion to World Group II in 2019.
2018: Breakthrough Season
In 2018, Naomi Osaka credited her breakthrough season to improving her mental approach and reducing unforced errors. She noted significant improvements in her game consistency and optimism, attributing these changes to her coach Sascha Bajin.
2018: First Major Title Win at US Open
In 2018, Naomi Osaka won her first major title at the US Open by defeating Serena Williams in the final. Despite the match being marred by an on-court dispute between Williams and the umpire, Osaka's victory made her the first Japanese woman to contest a major singles final and the first Japanese Grand Slam singles champion. She later described the win as 'a little bit bittersweet.'
2018: Rise to World No. 1
In 2018, Naomi Osaka rose to No. 1 in the world rankings after winning her first Premier Mandatory title and two Grand Slam singles titles. Her coach, Sascha Bajin, was named the inaugural WTA Coach of the Year.
2018: Hopman Cup Debut
In 2018, Naomi Osaka made her Hopman Cup debut with Yūichi Sugita. Japan, making their first appearance at the exhibition tournament since 2001, was grouped with Switzerland, the United States, and Russia. They lost all three of their ties, with Osaka's only match win coming in singles against Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. She also served an ace past Roger Federer in a mixed doubles match.
2019: Split with Sascha Bajin & New Coach
Shortly after her 2019 Australian Open title, Naomi Osaka split with her coach Sascha Bajin, stating she "wouldn't put success over [her] happiness." She then hired Jermaine Jenkins as her new coach from March until October. Osaka temporarily replaced him with her father in September and subsequently won her first two tournaments with him back as her coach.
2019: Second Major Title
In 2019, Naomi Osaka won her second major title at the Australian Open. This victory made her the first woman to win successive major singles titles since Serena Williams in 2015.
2019: Time 100 Most Influential People
In 2019, Naomi Osaka was named one of the Time 100 most influential people in the world for representing professional tennis well, being an excellent role model and a major champion.
2019: Marketability and Endorsements
In 2019, Naomi Osaka earned an estimated $16 million in endorsements, placing her second among female athletes behind Serena Williams. This highlighted her growing marketability and appeal.
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: Relationship with Cordae
In 2019, Naomi Osaka began a relationship with American rapper Cordae.
2019: Promotion to World Group II
In 2019, Japan's Fed Cup team, with Naomi Osaka, earned promotion to World Group II after a decisive doubles match win. This marked a significant milestone for the team.
2019: Nike Sponsorship
In 2019, Naomi Osaka began her apparel sponsorship with Nike, replacing Adidas who had sponsored her for four years. With Nike, she launched a clothing collection featuring her monogram logo inspired by the Japanese flag.
December 2020: Manga Series Release
In December 2020, the first edition of the manga series featuring Naomi Osaka as the main character was released in the February 2021 issue of Nakayoshi magazine.
2020: New Coach Wim Fissette
At the start of the 2020 season, Naomi Osaka hired Wim Fissette as her new coach, marking another significant change in her coaching team.
2020: Naomi Osaka's Activism
In 2020, Naomi Osaka became a leading activist in professional tennis. She withdrew from the Cincinnati Open to raise awareness for the police shooting of Jacob Blake, causing the tournament to postpone matches in support. At the US Open, she wore masks displaying names of African Americans killed by police, including Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. She also attended protests in Minnesota for George Floyd's murder and wrote an op-ed in Esquire about her support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
2020: Highest-Paid Female Athlete
In 2020, Naomi Osaka became the highest-paid female athlete of all time, earning $37.4 million in total, including $34 million in endorsements. She was the 29th highest-paid athlete overall and 8th highest-paid in endorsements.
2020: 2020 Season Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
In 2020, Naomi Osaka participated in only four tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She reached the semifinals at the Brisbane International and the third round at the Australian Open before the tour shutdown. Upon resumption, she won the US Open, becoming the first player to win a US Open women's singles final by coming from a set down since 1994. She ended her season early due to a hamstring injury.
2020: Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year
In 2020, Naomi Osaka was named a Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year for her activism. She was honored alongside LeBron James, Breanna Stewart, Patrick Mahomes, and medical worker Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. Osaka was also named one of Time 100's most influential people for her activism.
2020: Highest-Earning Female Athlete and Activism
In 2020, Naomi Osaka was the highest-earning female athlete of all time by annual income. She also gained significant recognition as an activist, showcasing support for the Black Lives Matter movement during her matches. She was named one of the Sports Illustrated Sportspersons of the Year.
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. She appeared in the Spring-Summer 2021 campaign for Louis Vuitton.
February 2021: Main Character in Manga Series
In February 2021, Naomi Osaka was featured as the main character in a manga series published by Kodansha in Nakayoshi, a leading Japanese shojo magazine. The series was drawn by Futago Kamikita with help from Osaka's sister Mari.
March 2021: Spoke Against Anti-Asian Hate Crimes
In March 2021, Naomi Osaka spoke out against anti-Asian hate crimes.
May 2021: Withdrawal from French Open
In May 2021, Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open after refusing to attend press conferences, citing mental health reasons. She was fined $15,000 and threatened with expulsion. Less than a month later, she also pulled out of Wimbledon to take personal time.
June 2021: Brand Ambassador for Panasonic
In June 2021, Naomi Osaka was announced as a brand ambassador for Panasonic. She promoted the "Panasonic Green Impact" initiative alongside Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and Olympic figure skater Nathan Chen. The campaign focused on climate change and featured commercials with all three athletes.
2021: Loss at US Open and Break Announcement
In September 2021, Naomi Osaka lost to Leylah Fernandez at the US Open, during which she threw her racket and received a code violation. She announced an indefinite break from tennis due to feeling anxious when things don't go her way, and later shared she is undergoing therapy.
2021: End of IMG Contract
In 2021, Naomi Osaka's contract with IMG expired, leading to the formation of her own sports agency, Evolve.
2021: Second Australian Open Title
In 2021, Naomi Osaka won her second Australian Open title. She defeated several top players, including Serena Williams in the semifinals and Jennifer Brady in the final. This victory made her one of only three players in the Open Era to win her first four Grand Slam finals.
2021: Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
In 2021, Naomi Osaka was named the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year.
2021: 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: Struggles with Mental Health and Hiatus
In mid-2021, Naomi Osaka retired from the French Open, dropped out of Wimbledon, and lost early at the US Open due to depression and other issues. She then closed down the rest of her tennis season to focus on family and health.
February 2022: FTX Lawsuit and Securities Act Ruling
In February 2022, following the $11-billion bankruptcy of FTX, Naomi Osaka was sued for her involvement with the company. Additionally, 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: Formation of Sports Agency
In May 2022, Naomi Osaka announced the formation of her own sports agency, Evolve, in partnership with her agent Stuart Duguid.
May 2022: Mental Health and Therapy
In May 2022, Naomi Osaka shared that ongoing therapy has helped her cope with mental health challenges. This statement followed an incident at the Indian Wells Open where she was heckled to the point of tears.
June 20, 2022: Signed Nick Kyrgios
On June 20, 2022, Naomi Osaka announced that she had signed Nick Kyrgios as her first client for her new sports agency, Evolve.
September 2022: Return to Professional Tennis
In September 2022, Naomi Osaka made her return to professional tennis as a wildcard at Brisbane. Playing her first professional match since September 2022, she defeated Tamara Korpatsch in the first round in straight sets, including a 20-point first set tiebreak, before losing to defending champion Karolína Plíšková in the second round in a very tight three-set match.
2022: Setting Up Evolve Sports Management Agency
In 2022, Naomi Osaka left IMG to set up her own sports management agency, Evolve, alongside her agent Stuart Duguid. This move marked a significant step towards greater control over her career.
2022: Launch of Hana Kuma
In 2022, Naomi Osaka and her agent Stuart Duguid launched a media and production company named Hana Kuma in partnership with TheSpringHill Company.
January 2023: Pregnancy Announcement
In January 2023, Naomi Osaka announced her pregnancy with her first child with American rapper Cordae, after withdrawing from the Australian Open.
July 7, 2023: Birth of First Child
On July 7, 2023, Naomi Osaka welcomed a healthy baby girl. During her pregnancy, she faced health challenges including Group B streptococcus infection and an umbilical cord issue.
July 2023: Health Challenges During Pregnancy
During her pregnancy in 2023, Naomi Osaka faced health challenges including Group B streptococcus infection and an umbilical cord issue around her unborn child’s neck.
2023: Hana Kuma Spin-off
In 2023, Hana Kuma, the media and production company launched by Naomi Osaka, spun off independently after a $5 million fundraising round.
2023: Withdrawal from 2023 Australian Open
In 2023, Naomi Osaka announced her withdrawal from the Australian Open as she was expecting her first child with rapper Cordae. She assured fans of her return in the 2024 season, planning to participate in the Brisbane International and the Australian Open.
2023: Investor in Professional Pickleball Team
In 2023, Naomi Osaka invested in a professional pickleball team based in Miami, Florida.
2023: Hiatus Due to Maternity Leave
In 2023, Naomi Osaka took another hiatus from tennis due to maternity leave.
January 2024: Planned Return to Tennis
In January 2024, Naomi Osaka plans to return to tennis for the Australian Open after the birth of her first child.
2024: Partnership with LPGA
In 2024, Hana Kuma announced a partnership with the LPGA to create a brand-building program for female golfers.
2024: Return to Competition
In 2024, Naomi Osaka returned to tennis competition after her hiatus in 2023 due to maternity leave.
2024: Planned Return to Tennis
Naomi Osaka announced her planned return to professional tennis in 2024. She is set to participate in the Brisbane International and the Australian Open, marking her comeback after a year-long hiatus due to pregnancy.