Naomi Osaka is getting real about motherhood. In a new interview with Glamour, the tennis superstar opened up about becoming a mom in 2023 to daughter Shai and how her pregnancy and childbirth impacted her tennis game as she prepares to compete in the Australian Open this month. She also spoke about a new campaign she's part of to help get federal paid parental leave for all.
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During the interview, she spoke candidly about speaking up for herself and the newfound confidence she's received since becoming a mom. It's the same confidence, along with inspiration from tennis great and mom of two Serena Williams, that allowed her to choose formula over breastfeeding.
"I watched Serena’s documentary, and I saw her pumping before she went onto the court to play a match," Osaka said. "I was thinking to myself, 'This might not be the path for me.'" Osaka announced a partnership with formula brand Bobbie and says that the partnership "came about organically."
But Osaka revealed that she may not have been as prepared as she thought when it came to the physical toll pregnancy takes on your body.
"Having a baby completely destroys your pelvic floor," she revealed. "I was shocked, because I couldn’t get up out of my bed. I had to roll sideways, and it was a really long process because, for me, my immediate way of thinking is: To rebuild this I have to do a lot of sit-ups. And I learned that that’s totally not what you’re supposed to do. You’re supposed to do deep pelvic-floor work."
She went on to add that "I did have a really great team around me that gave me a lot of information." But she noted, "I feel like that’s something that not a lot of people have access to."
Fifteen days after giving birth to Shai, Osaka was back to her physical training. It wasn't quite the same kind of intense training she does for tennis, but more like the same training routine she's done for years.
"Honestly, I didn’t know that people were going to create a big deal about me training so quickly," she shared. "I find it wild because I’ve been physically training since I was 7 years old. So, for me, it’s so natural."
Since partnering with Bobbie, the new mom is now calling for the passing of paid family and medical leave in America. Bobbie is also giving away cash grants for 50 families to provide support as they continue the fight for federal paid leave.
"When I heard the stats, I was really shocked," she said. "I’m lucky enough to not have to go straight into work, but I really needed that time to process everything that’s happened and, of course, get to know my baby. And to see that there are so many women that don’t have that choice and they have to immediately go straight to work is really sad."
