Naomi Osaka and boyfriend Cordae become parents to baby girl

The four-time Grand Slam winner has said she plans to return to the tour in 2024

Naomi Oasaka at the WTA 2021 Toray Pan Pacific Open

July 12, 2023

Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka has become a mother – welcoming a baby girl with her boyfriend Cordae in Los Angeles.

The former World No.1 and rapper Cordae announced in January that they were pregnant with their first child and last month Osaka confirmed that the couple would be having a daughter.

Osaka has not played on the tour in 2023 – her last match coming at the WTA Tokyo event in September – but has said she fully intends to return to the sport in 2024 when she broke the news of her pregnancy.

Hoy, en datos random: hace unos días, Naomi Osaka fue mamá por primera vez. Así lo contó su novio, el rapero Cordae, quien le dedicó el recital a “baby Shai”.

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— Marcos Zugasti (@marcos_z) July 11, 2023

“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,” Osaka wrote on social media when she announced her pregnancy. “These few months away from the sport has really given me a new love and appreciation for the game l’ve dedicated my life to. I realize that life is so short and I don’t take any moments for granted, everyday is a new blessing and adventure.

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— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) June 2, 2023

“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. 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.”

Osaka joins the list of WTA players who have become mums in recent months. Former world No 1s Ash Barty and Angelique Kerber also gave birth to their first children recently. While Kerber also plans to return to the tour next season, Barty has no plans of a comeback.

And if Osaka and Kerber have any doubts about their ability to return to the top of the sport, they need look no further than this year’s Wimbledon championships where Elina Svitolina, who became a mum for the first time in October, has made a stirring run to the semi-finals with a win over world No 1 Iga Swiatek on Tuesday.