Naomi Osaka put together a spectacular performance in defeating Serena Williams in the finals to capture the U.S. Open on Saturday. Osaka gained international attention for beating Williams one of the all-time great female tennis players.
Osaka, 20, posted a 6-2, 6-4 win over Williams, 36, for her first Grand Slam title. As a young tennis sensation, she has brought a lot of exposure to her multicultural heritage.
Osaka’s parents are of different ethnic backgrounds. She was born in Osaka, Japan, which is the same as her last name. She was born to a Japanese mother, Tamaki Osaka, and a Haitian father, Leonard Francois. Her father came to the United States from Haiti where he went to New York University.
After graduation, he traveled to Japan where he met and later married Naomi’s mother. Then, after three years, she came to this country where she finished her education.
“I think everybody knows this by now,” Osaka told The Washington Post. “Like I grew up in New York until I was 8 or 9 and then I moved to Florida.” Continue reading