Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka revealed she was brought to tears after witnessing her daughter, Shai, interact with a Barbie doll modeled after her.
In an innocent gesture, the soon-to-be two-year-old lovingly referred to the toy as “mommy doll,” leaving Osaka emotional.
Naomi Osaka Barbie Doll Sold Out Hours After Launch
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion and advocate for mental health and social justice, has long been a trailblazer in tennis and beyond. The Barbie in question is part of Mattel’s Barbie Role Model series, a collection dedicated to women who have redefined the limits of their fields and inspired future generations.
The Naomi Osaka doll, introduced in July 2021, recreates her look from the 2020 Australian Open, complete with her signature Nike brushstroke tennis dress, white visor, and Yonex racket. It sold out within hours of release, underlining her popularity and cultural impact.
Sharing the sweet moment with her fans, Naomi Osaka took to Threads and wrote, “Shai played with my Barbie for the first time the other day and she kept calling it ‘mommy doll.’ I cried.”
View on Threads
It was a full-circle moment for the 27-year-old, who became a mother in July 2023 and continues to juggle motherhood and professional tennis demands. This isn’t the first time Barbie has honored Osaka. Back in 2019, she was one of 20 trailblazing women featured in Barbie’s 60th-anniversary Shero line, which celebrated female icons from across the globe.
Osaka’s emotional update comes on the heels of a decent clay-court showing. She recently wrapped up her sixth campaign at the Italian Open, notching wins over Sara Errani, Viktorija Golubic, and Marie Bouzková before bowing out in the Round of 16 to American Peyton Stearns.
Her performance in Rome followed her title win at the WTA 125 L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo, her first title in four years, and notably her first ever on clay.
With momentum behind her, Osaka is now preparing for her eighth appearance at Roland Garros, where she first debuted in 2016 and has reached the third round on three occasions.
Osaka Shares Her Experience Balancing Tennis and Raising Her Daughter
In an interview with the Japan Times published in February this year, Naomi Osaka discussed the challenges of returning to competition after childbirth. She said she initially felt behind other players but has recently found her rhythm.
“It’s definitely been a challenge returning to elite sport after giving birth. The sport continues with or without you, and you’re playing a bit of catch-up when returning from a hiatus. Recently, I’ve been feeling like I’m returning to pre-pregnancy performance level, and it’s a great feeling knowing that all the hard work I’ve been putting in is paying off.”
Osaka also shared that motherhood has at times increased the pressure she feels to secure victories, explaining:
“Sometimes I feel like I’m missing important moments, so I feel like I’ll put extra pressure on myself to win because it feels like it’s all for nothing, missing this time with my daughter, if I’m not getting the results,” she said.
