Caribbean Roots Naomi Osaka Secures First Major Win in Four Years

News Americas, New York, NY, 28 August 2024: Tennis star of Caribbean heritage Naomi Osaka has returned to the US Open, securing her first major win in more than four years, defeating top-10 player Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia. After openly discussing the mental health challenges she has faced since returning from maternity leave, Osaka rediscovered her form with a commanding first-round win.

The Japanese-Haitian star also made a fashion statement during her match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens. Dressed in a custom Nike outfit with a loose green skirt with a white bow tied around her waist, the four-time Grand Slam champion showed resilience beyond her outfits. Despite a challenging season, Osaka showed she wasn’t giving up easily.

In front of a packed crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium on August 27, Osaka exuded positivity and determination as she knocked off her Latvian opponent – also a Grand Slam champion – who had 11 more match wins than Osaka this year.

Fighting back tears, Osaka spoke emotionally after the match, touched by the audience’s ovation. “I really wanted to step on these courts again,” she said. “I didn’t know if I could. … Just to win this game, just to be in this atmosphere, it means a lot to me.”

Osaka’s performance was outstanding, making no unforced errors in the first set and finishing the match just five, 16 behind Ostapenko. Reflecting on her win, she added with a smile: “I remember thinking, ‘I’ve got to win this match so I can wear my next color.’ This was very important to me. I think next time you will see my other color.”

Ranked 88th in the world, Osaka had earned a wild card spot in the women’s main draw after failing to qualify directly. She entered the tournament with an 18-15 record, following her most recent loss in the qualifying rounds of the Cincinnati Open. On Instagram, she candidly discussed the mental struggles she’s faced since giving birth to her first child, baby Shai, in July 2023.

“I don’t feel like I’m in my body,” Osaka wrote, before signing off with a promise to give her best as she headed to New York. So far, her hard work seems to be paying off.

Osaka will next face 2023 French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova, who advanced with a 6-3, 7-5 win against Katie Volynets of the USA.

Osaka and her boyfriend, rapper Cordae, welcomed baby Shai in July 2023. Speaking to Vogue earlier, Osaka shared her excitement about becoming a mother. “Everybody I know has had a baby, it’s changed their life,” she said. “I don’t think I can prepare for it. I guess I’ll just have to go with the flow.”