The Way Champs Play

About Naomi Osaka

Born in Japan to a Haitian-American father and a Japanese mother Naomi Osaka has lived and trained in the United States since age three. She has been ranked No. 1 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and is the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles. She is also a four-time Grand Slam singles champion. Along with being one of the world's most celebrated athletes Osaka has gained significant recognition as an activist showcasing support for Black Lives Matter and becoming a mental health advocate after withdrawing from the 2020 French Open for mental health reasons. Shes been named one of the 2020 Sports Illustrated Sportspersons of the Year and included on Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019 2020 and 2021 as well as 2021 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year. Finally at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics she became the first tennis player to light the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony. Kamala Nair an architect children's book illustrator and author believes that her dreams sprouted wings in the small coastal Indian state called Kerala. It's difficult to wipe the smile off her lips when she travels for she finds joy in diverse cultures people and architecture. Outside her workstation you can usually find her basking in earthy sunsets savoring lustrous green pastures during her walks or swimming alongside the fishes.