26-year-old tennis player Naomi Osaka has long been an athlete to watch, making waves on the court as she became the first Asian tennis player to be ranked world No. 1 in singles.
It’s undeniable that she’s one of the biggest tennis stars in the world and after making headlines for bravely prioritising her mental health and taking a step back from the sport as she welcomed her first child, all eyes are on the Japanese tennis player in 2024.
But when it comes to her personal life, she keeps things low-key with her rapper boyfriend, Cordae.
Who is Naomi Osaka’s boyfriend?
Cordae Amari Dunston is a 26-year-old American rapper, singer and songwriter.
The couple’s first date was back in December 2019 at a basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Washington Wizards.
“We were on FaceTime trying to find each other because the arena was so big. And I just remember seeing that there were so many people who wanted to take a picture with him. And I just thought it was really cool how friendly and welcoming he was with everyone,” Naomi recalled to GQ.
Grammy Award nominee Cordae didn’t even know she was a tennis player at the time.
“It’s not my sport. If you asked me about tennis, before being immersed in it because of Naomi, I could only give you Venus and Serena Williams, you know? Because they’re just a part of the culture.”
Since then, the couple have kept many details of their relationship out of the private eye, however, they did attend the 2021 Met Gala together.
“We were dating for almost a year before people knew about us. So we kind of move very reclusively,” Cordae told GQ in 2021. “We don’t really post intimate moments, because I feel as though they’re sacred.”
Over the past few years the couple have grown from strength to strength and despite having busy careers always support one another.
“Honestly, he’s quite a romantic dude,” Naomi said of her partner, adding that one of his most romantic moments came when he flew out to support her at the US Open even though he was really busy and she was allowed a limited number of people with her due to coronavirus restrictions.
“I really appreciated that. I’m not sure if I’ve told him that. I feel like he actually really helped me win just, like, keeping up the motivation.”
Cordae added that Naomi always makes time to come on tour with him.
“She’ll just take time out of, you know, whatever she got going on training and things of that nature to just come with us on tour for, like, two weeks at a time.”
He added that he knew Naomi was his match when she opened him up to new experiences, thanks to her “very worldly perspective.”
“I can’t really be with someone who doesn’t have any substance or doesn’t act or think on the same frequency and wavelength as I do. Like, you know, Naomi was born in Japan. So she has a very worldly perspective. My perspective has always been being a young Black man in America. But she thinks more worldly. I’ve only been traveling the world the last two years. We’d be recommending each other books and movies all the time. So, you know, just always feeding the brain.”
All About Naomi Osaka and Cordae’s Daughter, Shai
Naomi announced her pregnancy on Instagram in January 2023, posting a photo of her sonogram.
“The past few years have been interesting to say the least, but i find that it’s the most challenging times in life that may be the most fun,” she wrote on Instagram.
“These few months away from the sport has really given me a new love and appreciation for the game I’ve dedicated my life to.
“I realize that life is so short and I don’t take any moments for granted, every day is a new blessing and adventure.
“I know that I have so much to look forward to in the future, one thing i’m looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, “that’s my mom,”’ she continued.
“2023 will be a year that’ll be full of lessons for me and I hope I’ll see you guys in the start of the next one cause I’ll be at Aus 2024.”
The following July Naomi casually announced to fans that she had welcomed her daughter, Shai via Instagram. “Well that was a cool little intermission, now back to your regularly scheduled program,” she captioned the post.
Now five months old, Naomi has kept Shai firmly out of the spotlight, but as she gears up for the Australian Open she revealed to The Australian how becoming a mum has improved her game.
“Shai has helped me put things into perspective,” she explained.
“I will always be very ambitious and have high expectations of myself but at the end of the day, Shai is the most important thing in my life. Having her has helped me lessen the pressure that I put on myself.
“No matter what the result of a match is, she will love me regardless.”
Are Naomi Osaka and Cordae still together?
Just two months after announcing the birth of her daughter, Naomi sparked separation rumours after she posted cryptic messages on X (formerly known as Twitter) and scrubbed her Instagram of any mention of her partner.
The 26-year-old tennis star posted cryptic messages on X, formerly known as Twitter, Tuesday and scrubbed her Instagram of any mention of the rapper, sparking speculation that she’s ended her relationship with Cordae after four years together.
Cordae was also noticeably absent from photos Osaka shared on her birthday the same month and the pair have not been seen together since – however, Naomi spoke openly about him in an interview with InStyle in December 2023.
“We built a really good foundation,” she says of parenting alongside Cordae. “I don’t know if it’s because he’s just an easygoing guy, but I think we just respect each other’s opinions. And if we disagree on something, we talk it out. At the end of the day, we both want what’s best for Shai.”
Has Naomi Osaka retired?
In Naomi’s Instagram post announcing her pregnancy, she made it clear she hoped to return to professional tennis after her pregnancy and shortly after she announced the birth of her daughter she was back on the courts!
“I’ve been watching matches and I’m like, ‘I wish I was playing too’,” she said on a panel on mental health at the US Open. “But I’m in this position now and I’m very grateful. I really love my daughter a lot, but it has really fuelled a fire in me.”
She is set to compete in the 2024 Australian Open. “I love playing in Melbourne. I knew shortly after I found out I was pregnant that I wanted to come back and what better tournament to come back to,” she told The Australian.
Naomi Osaka on her mental health break
In May 2021 Naomi made the decision to not take part in press conferences at the French Open to protect her mental health.
After copping a hefty fine, the then-23-year-old then decided to withdraw from the Grand Slam competition, explaining to her fans on Instagram that she’s suffered “long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018” and as an introvert with social anxiety, has a hard time coping with it.
“I’m gonna take some time away from the court now, but when the time is right I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can make things better for the players, press and fans,” she wrote.
The tennis star received support from figures including the Williams sisters, Usain Bolt, Lewis Hamilton and more, but the sweetest comment came from Cordae.
“No need to apologize to ANYBODY !” he wrote in response to her post.
During the Tokyo Olympics Naomi wrote for Time magazine on the anxiety that came with speaking out about mental health.
“I feel uncomfortable being the spokesperson or face of athlete mental health as it’s still so new to me and I don’t have all the answers,” she wrote.
“I do hope that people can relate and understand it’s OK to not be OK, and it’s OK to talk about it. There are people who can help, and there is usually light at the end of any tunnel.”
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