Naomi Osaka has undeniably left an indelible mark on tennis. While her influence is most visible through her achievements and presence on court, it also extends beyond the sport. Former US Open champion Andy Roddick revealed that Osaka’s impact even reached his household, joking that her influence on his daughter ended up costing him a hefty $1,000, and he later explained why.
Naomi Osaka’s Labubu Collection Won Over Andy Roddick’s Daughter Stevie, As an American Legend Gives Insight
The 2025 season offered clear signs of Naomi Osaka’s resurgence. She claimed her first title in four years at Saint-Malo, reached the final of the Canadian Open, and produced a commanding run at the US Open, where she advanced to the semifinals before losing to Amanda Anisimova. Osaka closed the year with a 35–15 record. It re-entered the top 20, finishing world No. 16.
Beyond her commanding showing in New York, Osaka captured attention in a far more playful way. Throughout the 2025 US Open, the four-time Grand Slam champion unveiled a series of custom, crystal-studded Labubu plush charms attached to her racket bag. Each piece paid tribute to notable tennis greats, including Billie Jean King, Arthur Ashe, Andre Agassi, and others. Introduced match by match after her victories, the dolls quickly became viral, perfectly complementing her floral-themed outfits.
That, however, won over 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick’s daughter, Stevie, who insisted on having the same. Speaking recently on his podcast, Roddick joked that Osaka’s US Open racket bag sparked a Labubu obsession in his household, ultimately costing him nearly $1,000 in collectibles for his daughter. He quipped that Labubu dominates family conversations, humorously adding that Osaka influenced his family life more this year than she might realize.
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“Yeah, she’s cost me, I gotta be honest, with that backpack at the US Open. She has cost me about a $1000 in Labubus. With my daughter. Are in Labubu nation right now? It’s like, there is a 1000% chance the word Labubu is said. “When I said, Hey Stevie, how was your school?” I mean Naomi Osaka had a larger impact on our family this year than she will ever realize,” she said.
Osaka is set to begin her 2026 campaign at the United Cup, a mixed-team tournament where she will represent Japan. Scheduled from Jan. 2 to 11, the competition will be hosted across Perth’s RAC Arena and Sydney’s Olympic Park Tennis Centre, including Ken Rosewall Arena. Eighteen countries will participate, divided into six groups of three, with round-robin play determining the progression. Each tie will feature men’s singles, women’s singles, and a mixed doubles match.
