MELBOURNE, Australia — As Naomi Osaka shines in her matches at the Australian Open, she found it necessary to send someone to their home in California to collect crucial documents, particularly her daughter’s birth certificate, due to the dangerous wildfires threatening the Los Angeles region.
Following her first-round victory against Caroline Garcia from France, where Osaka won with scores of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, she shared during her on-court interview that she had learned of a fire blazing merely three blocks away from her residence.
Concerned for the safety of her daughter’s birth certificate, Osaka expressed the importance of keeping it protected. Her daughter, Shai, was welcomed into the world in July 2023, and she often travels alongside Osaka throughout her tennis journey.
This month, Osaka took to social media to announce the end of her relationship with rapper Cordae, who is Shai’s father.
Reflecting on her focus during the tournament amidst the turmoil back home, Osaka remarked, “Honestly, I don’t think I’ve been doing the greatest keeping focus, but obviously I won, so I think it’s an acceptable job.” She acknowledged how challenging it has been to manage her mental state, noting that her house has become more meaningful since having her daughter.
In her news conference, Osaka donned a black Dodgers cap with “LA” and a red heart embroidered on it, pairing it with a purple Lakers jersey.
“I’m not there, so I don’t know how bad it is or how bad it’s going to get,” she admitted. Nevertheless, she expressed gratitude for her family’s safety amidst the chaos.
Osaka stated she might not return to Los Angeles immediately after the Australian Open, feeling that it isn’t safe to head back just yet. “It’s kind of a little bit in a limbo — but also motivating me to hopefully stay here as long as I can,” she added.
The former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion has had her career marked by success at both the Australian Open and the U.S. Open. Born in Japan, she relocated to the United States at the age of three and has since established her base in Los Angeles.
“Sending all my love to LA. We hear about fires, but I didn’t know how devastating it could be,” Osaka said during her on-court remarks. She also took a moment to draw “LA” with a heart on a courtside TV camera lens, a tribute similar to gestures made by fellow athletes like Coco Gauff and Donna Vekic.
This encounter marks the second consecutive year that Osaka and Garcia faced each other in the first round at Melbourne Park. Last year, Osaka was still finding her footing after returning from maternity leave, resulting in a loss to Garcia.
“It’s a really big coincidence,” she reflected on the repeated match-up. “It felt a little familiar.”
Osaka commenced this tennis season positively, having reached the final of a hard-court tuneup tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, though she had to retire from the match after taking the first set due to injury.
Looking ahead in the Australian Open, Osaka is set to compete against 20th-seeded Karolina Muchova, who was the runner-up at the 2023 French Open but faced a lengthy hiatus due to wrist surgery. Muchova progressed in the tournament by defeating Nadia Podoroska with a score of 6-1, 6-1.
At last year’s U.S. Open, Muchova triumphed over Osaka in the second round, adding another layer of intensity to their upcoming match.
