Naomi Osaka: Millions in the account, rapper to friend – that’s how the tennis star ticks

Victory at the Australian Open
Millions in the account and a rapper as a friend: That’s how tennis star Naomi Osaka ticks

So there she was in the final of the Australian Open for the second time and at the end she was allowed to hug the trophy again: Naomi Osaka is the tennis prodigy of the hour.  The  hearts of the audience flew to her worldwide again this weekend. This is also due to her casual manner. “I told everyone who wanted to hear that you would be a problem and I was right,” she said laughing to her opponent Jennifer Brady, who she had just beaten in the final, in Melbourne would have.  The  23-year-old has that certain something, the charm that makes a star, regardless of the industry. And it’s interesting in many ways.

On the one hand, there is her background: her mother is Japanese, her father comes from Haiti. She was born in Japan, but when she was three the family moved to the United States.

 The  maternal grandfather had disowned her mother for marrying a black man. Naomi and her older sister Mari grew up in New York and later in Florida. When the protests against police violence against black people in the USA became loud last year, Osaka also took part in the resistance and spoke out publicly against racism. At the US Open, she wore masks with the names of victims of police violence. This did not affect their market value, on the contrary.

Cool, cooler, Cordae and Osaka: the celebrity couple of the hour

In Japan, advertisers are fighting for her, especially since she lost her US citizenship last year and now only has Japanese citizenship. She earned $ 37 million last year, more than any other athlete before, according to Forbes.

 The  sporting goods manufacturer Nike has just secured the rights to her outfits until 2025, pays her 10 million dollars for them, she is the new face of the luxury brand Louis Vuitton. And their private life is not a bit boring either.

She has been in a relationship with Grammy-nominated rapper Cordae for two years, the two are currently cuddling on the cover of “GQ”, the American magazine calls them “the coolest young couple on the planet”. Cordae cheers for his girlfriend loudly on the stands of tennis tournaments around the world, she sometimes spends two weeks at a time with him on the tour bus.

 The  two are stylish, young and have a certain “I don’t care” attitude: A photo of Cordae, which showed him next to her with a stretched middle finger after a victory in Osaka, caused brief indignation – and then only carried on to the cool image of the two.

Last but not least, Osaka also delivers in a sporty way. She won four major titles in a row the first time in the final, the last time Monica Seles achieved that 30 years ago. Her Nike deal also includes her own fashion collection, which is due to appear in Japan this fall. Hoodies, leggings and T-shirts are among them – but not tennis clothing. Naomi Osaka has long since stood for much more.

Sources: New Yorker, Forbes, GQ

sst