How has becoming a mom changed the way you think?
“I think a lot about how my actions impact my daughter. I get a little scared because I don’t know if one little action that I think is nothing could impact her whole day. I’m really grateful to be a mom, and we’re learning from each other. The more I learn about myself, the more I can help her, so it’s a cool little journey we’re on.”
What do you want young athletes to know about taking care of their mental health?
“I grew up in a generation where if you showed your emotions, you were showing weakness. A bunch of people I used to play with burned out and didn’t want to play tennis anymore because they developed such negative emotions toward it. So I wish younger athletes felt more comfortable talking about their emotions—it’s not a sign of weakness; it’s that you’re letting go.”
What is something that has made tennis fun for you recently?
“My outfits. I have a lot of fun putting on cool outfits and seeing people’s reactions to them. Nike [Osaka’s sponsor] always does a really good job, and they understand my personality too. We talk about [Grand Slam] outfits maybe two years in advance, and I’m very lucky because I get to draw what I want to wear and Nike will take that or put a spin on it—at this year’s US Open, they didn’t change [my drawing] at all. I usually think of each outfit as a character, so each tournament gets a different person who lives in their own little world. Tennis has lost its spark a little bit in the sense of the grand reveal, so we’re trying to have fun and bring that back.”
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