Naomi Osaka has shared that her mother, Tamaki, is her greatest female role model while also expressing admiration for Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Li Na. Currently with the Japanese national team at the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers, Osaka discussed her female role models in an interview.
The 26-year-old mentioned that although she looks up to Williams, Sharapova, and Li Na, her mother remains her biggest inspiration. As a four-time Grand Slam winner and a mother, Osaka now understands the sacrifices her mother made. She said, “My greatest female role model has been my mom. I love Serena, Sharapova, Li Na… But I think it’s really cool because growing up, obviously, you have to have role models to believe that you can do something.”
Osaka will compete for Japan in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan in Tokyo on April 12 in her first appearance since a four-year absence. Despite aiming for the Paris Olympics this year, an International Tennis Federation spokesperson stated that Osaka would need to go through an appeals process due to her last participation in the Billie Jean King Cup in February 2020. This means she has not fulfilled the requirement of appearing in two Olympic cycle ties.
