Naomi Osaka has made headlines for her dominance on the tennis court, but in recent years, she’s also embraced a new role—motherhood. The four-time Grand Slam champion, 27, welcomed her first child, a daughter, in July 2023 with then-boyfriend Cordae. While their relationship has since ended, Osaka has remained focused on raising her little girl while balancing her return to professional tennis.
“I have multiple identities. My return to the sport is a love letter for moms,” Osaka said in a trailer for Tubi’s new documentary, Naomi Osaka: The Second Set. “Some people say she ended my career, but for me, it feels like she started my career.”
Below, learn more about Naomi’s daughter.
Shai
Osaka and Cordae welcomed their daughter, Shai, in Los Angeles in July 2023. At the 2023 US Open, Osaka told ESPN that they chose the name because “Shai” means “God’s gift.” She added, “That’s how I wanted her to feel, like she’s God’s gift to me and her dad.”
Osaka also opened up to PEOPLE about designing Shai’s nursery, which features a soft cloud theme. “I wanted something that felt very peaceful and serene that would help the baby and me feel comfortable,” she explained. “We ultimately landed on the cloud theme, which feels really perfect for what we envisioned.”
Osaka had first announced her pregnancy in January 2023 in a since-deleted Instagram post. “Can’t wait to get back on the court but here’s a little life update for 2023,” she captioned a carousel of images, which included a photo of an ultrasound screen and a heartfelt message written in both English and Japanese.
Reflecting on the new chapter ahead, Osaka wrote, “The past few years have been interesting to say the least, but I find that it’s the most challenging times in life that may be the most fun. These few months away from the sport have really given me a new love and appreciation for the game I’ve dedicated my life to.”
She added, “I realize that life is so short and I don’t take any moments for granted, every day is a new blessing and adventure. I know that I have so much to look forward to in the future, one thing I’m looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, ‘that’s my mom,’ haha.”
In August 2025, Osaka revealed on Today that Shai will finally get to see her mom in action at the US Open. “It would be her first time at a tennis match, so I don’t know how loud she’s going to be,” she said.
