About Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka, born October 16, 1997, is a Japanese tennis player and social activist who became the first player from Japan to win a Grand Slam singles title. She was also the first Asian player to ascend to the top of the Woman's Tennis Association world ranking. As well as being a successful tennis player she became a social justice campaigner. 

In 2020 she withdrew from tennis competitions as a meaning of showing solidarity with Black Lives Matter protests. At the U.S. Open the following month, she wore a series of face masks featuring African Americans who had died at the hands of police in alleged racially motivated attacks.

Osaka also withdrew from the French Open in May 2021 to protect her mental health, the move shocked the world and put mental health in the spotlight. She walked away from tennis when she was at the top of her game and shared her struggles with depression and anxiety. This move was deeply relatable for many. 

'It's okay not to be okay!'