Edited Jan. 13, 2025

It’s January 2025 and the world of professional tennis is in Australia. Naomi Osaka covers the January 2025 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Australia/New Zealand [IG] styled by Sue Choi in the Louis Vuitton story lensed by John Russo [IG]./ Hair by Marty Harper; makeup by Autumn Moultrie

“Freedom looks different for so many,” the winner of Four Grand Slam tournaments tells Bazaar Australia before continuing [for her] “Freedom is no longer caring what others think.” That’s the Bazaar Australia Instagram lead on the cover shot.

After Withdrawing in Auckland Classic, Some Osaka Reflections

The tennis pro reached the semi-final match of a warmup tournament in Auckland, New Zealand. Tennis watchers reported Osaka playing some of her best tennis in years, before meeting Denmark’s Clara Tauson last Sunday.

After winning the first set 6-4, the America-residing new mother, who plays for Japan, called a timeout and ceded the match to Tauson, after complaining of an unidentified injury. The press assumed it was an abdominal injury and not the back injury Osaka suffered at the China Open in October that ended her 2024 season.

At age 27, Naomi is exactly the age when most tennis pros reach their peak. This fact is good news for Osaka seeking a comeback, as long as she is in peak physical form AND can withstand the reality that she hasn’t won one tournament in recent years.

For tennis media to note those facts about Naomi Osaka is not racism. They are the facts of the sport. As we speak, a certain woman designer at the highest levels of luxury brands world is assaulted almost daily with the suggestion that she’s no longer good enough. [More on the topic later this weekend. ] You don’t hear that designer calling “ageism”.

Many were rooting for Naomi to win the Auckland Classic event to lift her confidence. Osaka’s last Grand Slam win was the 2021 Australian Open. After a strong start at the Auckland Classic, Osaka was again weeping on the court. And then she channeled the great Ali with a heroic prediction about how she sees competitors facing the power of her game.

"I want to take every match seriously, and if someone does beat me, I want it to be the fight of their life," Osaka said. "I want to build that reputation within the community of tennis. I just hope that I can grow to fight for everything."
"Last year, it was really difficult to get that mindset, and you could see that in a lot of my matches. The tennis was there throughout the year, but it was more of a mindset thing, and now here I think I'm ready for the battles."

You are not ready for battle, if you are publicly weeping over pain or defeat. For starters, you have two great brands — well three — still standing behind you with significant endorsement income: Louis Vuitton, Nike and Tag Heuer continue to support Osaka.

I note headlines that Dior has dropped Emma Raducanu ahead of the Australian Open. Raducanu has never returned to the form that propelled her 2021 US Open victory. Raducanu was the first Brit to win the US Open since Virginia Wade in 1977.

Anne will never win a popularity contest, because I wrote then about both Osaka and Raducanu receiving heaps of money that bordered on being irrational and obscene.

Duties of a Role Model

Naomi also reflected on role model status in tennis and her personal loss of Serena “and, of course, Venus.” Clearly this issue of her own ascendancy as a role model was on her mind, as Naomi reflected on the situation in an article reported by ESPN.

I feel a lot of responsibility, and I also feel like I haven't been the greatest role model at times. But I'm also, I guess, learning and trying my best every year.

In Melbourne, Osaka Draws Garcia on Saturday

Heading into the Australian Open in Melbourne, Naomi Osaka has drawn Caroline Garcia in her first match now rescheduled for 5am Monday the 13th EST [New York time]. The date and time have changed 3-4 times since Thursday night, but this seems set. [Update Jan. 13: Osaka defeated Garcia.]

While Anne notes that Osaka was again crying on the court — presumably in pain and not self-absorbed frustration [wrong] — Garcia has also admitted a recent struggle with anxiety and a "toxic mindset", as she tied her self-worth to tennis match results.

Tears vs Temper in Women

I must look to see what Serena has said about this issue over the years. She suffered more toxicity than any of them, as far as I know. Serena cursed; she threw her racket; I don’t think she cried. Her eyes might have welled up, but Serena’s a warrior. And warriors refuse to cry before the entire world.

Naomi Osaka’s new coach Patrick Mouratoglou was previously Serena’s coach, so he has deep psychological insights into both women.

I’m not excusing Serena’s most famous outbursts — and didn’t when they happened. But in the reality of these challenging times for all women worldwide from Afghanistan to America, I’ll take Serena’s temper over Naomi’s tears in the heat of competition.

Naomi’s tears signal to MAGA and the Trump administration that they are correct, when they say that women can’t cut it. This belief justifies their big argument that weeping, overly-emotional women undermine our collective ability to serve in the military in crucial roles. Women, they argue, put the nation in danger — and you will hear this discussion in the upcoming senate confirmation hearings for Trump Department of Defense officials.

Serena has had plenty to say about racism in the game and the grueling pressure she played under, but she refuses to weep about it publicly. Osaka saw that warrior-spirit in action at the US Open final September 8, 2018, where Serena — in the agony of a questionable loss — quieted the crowd upset over Osaka beating her.

I was weeping privately on behalf of Serena but she exhibited total grace and fortitude towards Osaka — if not the umpire, who she publicly loathes and makes no effort to conceal her lack of respect for him.

Naomi and Cordae Split

Naomi is in Melbourne now with her new coach Patrick Mouratoglou, and we’ll see what happens on Monday. At a time when she should be focused on tennis, the Japanese champion says she and her American rapper boyfriend Cordae have split up in recent days.

Osaka made the announcement on Instagram, stating that they will co-parent their daughter Shai, their greatest gift together. The couple went public with their relationship in 2019. Naomi says everything is fine, and that may be true. But six years of your life with someone is a long time in today’s world.

Returning to Harper’s Bazaar Australia/New Zealand’s January 2025 covers, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka finished 2024 ranked No. 1 in women’s tennis. She also has a cover and fashion story in the issue, which we will share. As the two-time [and defending] Australian Open champion who has faced her own very challenging mental issues, Sabalenka and Osaka share that honor of being winners in Melbourne.