On January 11th, Naomi Osaka took to social media to announce she’s pregnant with her first child – she has been in a relationship with rapper Cordrae for the past three years. “Can’t wait to get back on the court but here’s a little life update for 2023,” she captioned the post, sharing a photo of her sonogram.
The news comes just a few days after the tennis star withdrew from the Australian Open and, while she didn’t issue a statement explaining why at the time, we now have a reason. The four-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 player has struggled in recent years due to mental health and injuries.
Nonetheless, we’re excited for Osaka and Cordrae who will enter the world of parenthood for the first time – both at the age of 25. While Osaka confirmed she will miss the entire 2023 tennis season, she did reveal her intention to return to the court sometime in 2024 – once she has an opportunity to settle in.
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“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 has really given me a new love and appreciation for the game I’ve dedicated my life to,” wrote Naomi Osaka in a statement on social media.
She went on to acknowledge how short life is and how she hates taking moments for granted – calling every day a ‘new blessing and adventure.’ One of the things she’s most excited about is her kid watching one of her matches and telling someone, “That’s my mom.” That’ll be a special moment when it comes.
“2023 will be a year that’ll be full of lessons for me and I hope I’ll see you guys in the start of the next one cause I’ll be at Aus 2024 Love you all infinitely,” she wrote – which means we can expect to see her back in action in time for the Australian Open, which usually begins in the middle of January. We can’t wait!
And being the mental health advocate she is, Naomi Osaka left her followers with a sidenote – an uplifting and positive one many people can appreciate. “I don’t think there’s a perfectly correct path to take in life but I always felt that if you move forward with good intentions you’ll find your way eventually,” she wrote.
Naomi Osaka Has a Lot to Look Forward to
Naomi Osaka has already accomplished so much in her career at just 25 years old. On the court, she has a 265-148 career singles record since turning pro in September 2013 – she was just 16 years old when she made her debut. Through the years, she has established herself as a living icon on and off the court.
She has won the U.S. Open twice (2018, 2020) and Australian Open twice (2019, 2021). After a rough season last year that was riddled with injuries and other personal issues, Osaka failed to win a Grand Slam in 2022 for the first time since 2017 and will miss out on that opportunity for a second straight year.
With that said, the soon-to-be-mother has a lot to look forward to in the future – not just the baby, but she still has plenty of elite tennis left in her and she’s still one of the best talents the sport has. And despite having a down year in 2022, she was still the highest-paid female athlete due to her various ventures.
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2022 was also a year that saw her create a talent agency with her agent, Stuart Duguid – a talent agency that signed fellow tennis players Ons Jabeur and Nick Kyrgios. She continues to be one of the most inspirational athletes and that will only grow more true as she enters motherhood for the first time.
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