Tennis players are often expected to strike a balance between their professional and personal lives, and Naomi Osaka is no exception. The Japanese star recently revealed that her daughter Shai has begun “talking back” as she grows. Osaka is currently competing at the 2026 Madrid Open, where she is chasing her first title of the season.
Naomi Osaka Reveals Daughter Shai Is ‘Talking Back’ While Growing Up Fast
The four-time Grand Slam champion welcomed her daughter, Shai, in July 2023 with her then-boyfriend, rapper Cordae. The couple parted ways in January last year, and since then, Osaka has continued to balance her career with motherhood, frequently spending time with her two-year-old.
In fact, ahead of the European clay-court swing, Naomi Osaka took time off in the United States to be at home with her daughter, embracing the routine of school drop-offs and pick-ups. Adding to that, her daughter has also accompanied her to Caja Mágica, as Osaka navigates a challenging draw at the tournament.
The former world No. 1 and the 14th seed started her campaign in the second round against Camila Osorio, securing a 6-2, 7-5 triumph. She then secured an easy 6-1, 6-3 win over Anhelina Kalinina to reach the fourth round of the Masters 1000 event.
Following her second-round match, Osaka sat down with Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj to discuss a variety of topics. During the conversation, the Japanese player was asked what she prioritized while transitioning from the American hard-court swing to the clay-court season.
“Honestly, I prioritised my daughter. So, we were in North Carolina and I had my whole team come there. So we were on green clay, which is why I came here quite early. I came here almost a week a ago, just to get used to the red clay. But for prioritizing tennis wise, I would say just fitness and movement. I think that’s really important,” she said.
Amritraj followed up by asking Osaka about Shai, to which she replied, “She is really good. She is here.” Amritraj asked if she was growing fast, prompting Osaka to answer, “Yeah, oh my god! She is talking back.”
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Osaka is yet to find her rhythm this season, with her campaign highlighted by a third-round walkover at the Australian Open, a fourth-round finish at the BNP Paribas Open, and a second-round exit at the Miami Open. The four-time Grand Slam champion now faces a stern test in the fourth round, where she takes on fellow four-time Major winner Aryna Sabalenka.
Notably, this would be their first clash on clay, with their head-to-head currently tied at 1-1. According to the PFSN’s exclusive simulator, the Belarusian holds a whopping 87% chances of advancing into the next round.
