Podcast Podcast, Season 4, Episode 9 Naomi Osaka

Welcome to Season 4 of The Edge, a podcast by TAG Heuer. Our guest today is tennis star and four time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. In this episode, Naomi recalls the moment that she won her second Australian Open in 2021. She also talks about the moments that shaped her, how she overcomes pressure and what the future holds for her both on and off the court. Presented by your host Naomi Schiff, this is The Edge, a podcast by TAG Heuer.

Here are a few snippets to put you on the starting line and get the adrenaline pumping. But don’t forget to subscribe to our Podcast so you can listen to the full, unfiltered episode later. The Edge is a series of conversations with extraordinary people operating at the edge of possibility. It’s about the thin line between taking part and tipping into victory; it’s about what gives us our edge and what we can do to go beyond it.

I was born in Japan, but I moved to New York when I was around three years old, and my mother is Japanese and my father is Haitian. And we moved to New York and to Florida after that for tennis when I was around 7 or 8 years old. I would say my love for tennis came from watching my role models. Younger, we got to the US open and watched the professional athletes, so I would say, yeah, aspiring to be like them started my look for tennis.

I have a very specific memory: walking through the tunnel of Rod Laver and seeing all the names on the wall and wanting my name to be up there for the second time. So I would say that that’s probably a very significant memory for me. Beating Serena gave me a particular feeling. I wouldn’t say it was confidence, but more of an obligation to win, to honor her level of play. It’s a bit of a strange mindset, but that’s how I felt. I think about all the hours of practice that led me there. It helps me appreciate the moment. Once on the court, I focus on my game and block everything else out. The atmosphere was incredible. During the walk-on, I usually listen to music, but even through the headphones, you can hear the crowd roaring. When you step on the court, you can feel their excitement for the match. While I say I don’t hear much, I can sense the reactions to good shots, the tension in the crowd, and the applause between points. In my third-round match, I was playing against Ons Jabeur when a butterfly landed on my leg, then on my face. It felt magical. People said it was a visiting spirit, which motivated me to keep going.

It’s a little surreal. When I look back at it, I feel proud of the journey, the sacrifices, and the work my team and I put in. Moments like these remind me why I started playing tennis in the first place. I appreciate these accolades, the trophies, and making history. However, I still find myself looking ahead and aiming for the next goal. It’s a mentality that has helped me a lot.  I’m sure you would be good at something else because the dedication, sacrifice, mental strength—everything it takes to be an elite athlete, you need just a fraction of that to be good at many other things out there. I would say what inspires me to keep raising awareness is realizing that if your voice can reach just one person, that’s good enough. And I happen to have the reach of more than one person, which I didn’t realize until a bit later in my career. But yeah, I think just trying to speak on what matters to you, what’s authentic, and on the issues you feel need to be brought to light.

I do think motherhood has changed me, as an athlete and also as a person, but I wouldn’t be able to pinpoint specific characteristics. I think maybe someone close to me would be able to. On the court, it’s made me a lot more… I would say decisive. And also, I always thought my pain tolerance was high, but after giving birth, I don’t think any workout could ever faze me. Off the court, I think it’s made me much more confident in myself. I think dreams are what define a person. I have really big dreams. I know I still want to achieve a lot, both on and off the court. I want to win more Grand Slams, especially Wimbledon and the French Open. This year showed me I can play really well on clay, so I’m excited to return next year. And with the next Olympics coming up soon, there’s so much to look forward to.  I’ve been fortunate enough to interact with so many different moms on my journey this year, and they’ve all been so kind and told me I’m an inspiration to them. But I feel like they’re an inspiration to me.

I think dreams are what define a person. I have really big dreams. I know I still want to achieve a lot, both on and off the court. I want to win more Grand Slams, especially Wimbledon and the French Open. This year showed me I can play really well on clay, so I’m excited to return next year. And with the next Olympics coming up soon, there’s so much to look forward to.