This summer Naomi Osaka, the shy 22 year old Japanese, has become the highest paid female athlete of all time—reported bringing in $ 37.4 million in sponsorship deals and cash prizes (and surpassing Serena Williams, the highest paid former female athlete ever). Athletes with larger than life sponsorship offers tend to have larger than life egos. But this is not the Osaka style. Her history wins feeling less like explosive moments in the spotlight and more like a series of boxes to be checked silently and methodically so that you can humbly but forcefully move on to the next goal.
Osaka has certainly done many of its titles this year, but those aren’t the ones it focused on. In the face of the coronavirus pandemic and protests against police brutality, he transformed his stellar power, sometimes reluctant to activism, using his platform to highlight the movement of black lives matter rather than self-promotion – although becoming politicians might it means risking some of those profitable sponsorships.
To emphasize her peaceful and profound impact on the world of sport, we asked the person who knows her best – her older sister Mari, who is a tennis champion and talented artist in her own right – to write her a love letter. Through Mari’s eyes, it is clear why the broken records that Naomi leaves in her wake seem almost inevitable: the sisters have been preparing for this historic moment since they were children.
Dear Naomi,
Looking at yourself while doing your things is like looking at someone who makes their dreams come true in real life. We grew up talking about this – how we would grow up, and get into fashion and get engaged – and you made it real. You materialized it.
I am not with you as much as I would like and I cannot always be there for these great victories. I know better than to give you advice on tennis, but it makes me happy that you call me even before important games. You tell me you’re nervous. I tell you to imagine everyone naked.
When it comes to tennis, I think that’s the most important thing I’ve taught you: how to lose.
When we were growing up, for example from 3 to 16 years old, we played together every single day. Since I’m the older sister, I’ve always won. But you never gave up. Every single day you said, “I’ll beat you tomorrow,” without your spirit going down. It was like a constant motivation for you. For some people, getting their asses every day, they might give up. They could be like “Hmm, this is not a good sport for me”. But not you. For you it was just more motivation. So please!
So you started winning. I remember you created this face – the most annoying face in the world – that made me want to punch you. But it’s beautiful. I will take you again.
You taught me never to give up. It happens to you in really bad situations sometimes, and then you just put your face on it. You don’t give up at all. Even if you complain, you will always try.
If you say you are going to do something, you can find a way to do it. Many people say they will do something, but then they don’t. you always just do it. You always find a way. When we were little, you said you were going to win the US Open. And then you did. It’s your whole life, not just tennis.
Be hungry. Go on. Honestly, there is nothing that can really stop you. Except maybe next time we have a rematch.
-Great
.
