This year’s BNP Paribas Open will feature Naomi Osaka following a wild card award.
The competition will run from March 7 to March 20. After a two-year absence, Osaka returns to Indian Wells.
She had been scheduled to compete in the event in 2021, but she pulled out just two weeks before it began.
In 2018, Osaka took home the BNP Paribas Open title. Having taken a long sabbatical after the U.S. Open in August 2021, she is currently ranked No. 82 in the WTA rankings.
She took a break from tennis after losing to Leylah Fernandez of Canada at Flushing Meadows.
Naomi Osaka Tennis Break
Then, she explained that her loss was only exacerbating her mental pressure that she had been battling for months – since the French Open and Wimbledon.
Naomi Osaka. Photo/USA TODAY Sports
The 24-year-old Japanese had earlier disclosed that she was battling anxiety and depression.
Osaka withdrew from the French Open in 2021 in order to focus on her mental health. This followed a public spat over mandated press conferences at Grand Slam tournaments, claiming that they were taking an undue toll on her mental health.
Naomi Osaka Australian Open
In 2022, she returned to the Australian Open, although she was knocked out in the round of 32.
She was eliminated in the third round of the Australian Open by hard-hitting American Amanda Anisimova. The four-time Grand Slam champion, who returned to competitive tennis for the Australian summer after an extended absence to work on her mental health in 2021, was philosophical when asked about her loss.
Osaka remarked that she fought for every point of the tournament. She maintained that the loss wouldn’t bring her down. She further said that she cannot be sad over every match she loses because ‘she is not God’.
While winning the Grand Slam would be a great accomplishment, she adds, she can’t help but think of herself as a person who strives to win on a daily basis.
In the wake of her early withdrawal from the Australian Open the Japanese tennis sensation said that she will temporarily stop using some social media platforms.
“The first thing that I’ll probably do when I look at my phone is delete Instagram and Twitter, and then I probably won’t re-download it for a couple of weeks,” the four-time Grand-Slam champion said post-match.
Before she was elbowed out of the tournament, Osaka had an impressive start at the Australian Open. She beat American Madison Brengle 6-0, 6-4, and advanced to the third round of the Australian Open Wednesday last week.
Osaka served beautifully and faced no breakpoints. She recovered strongly to win the first set in 20 minutes while Brengle had just nine points.
Naomi Osaka Net Worth
Despite her loss in the opening Grand Slam of the year, Forbes ranks her among the highest-paid athletes in 2021.
The Japanese tennis star who has worked to raise awareness of mental health concerns in sports earned $57.3 million in prize money and endorsements in 2021.
In addition, more than ten new brand partners added to Osaka’s endorsement portfolio during the last year and a half, accounting for nearly all of her profits to date.
Osaka has commercial relationships with brands such as Tag Heuer and Louis Vuitton. She also enjoys partnerships with Nike, Beats by Dre and Mastercard.
Naomi Osaka Nike Partnership
The four-time Grand Slam champion recently announced her partnership with Nike. She unveiled her creative gear collection with the sportswear company.
Osaka’a Nike collection was released on January 11. It represents Osaka’s third partnership with the sportswear manufacturer.
Among the items in the unisex collection are long-sleeved turtleneck tops, vests, and buckled tennis pants. There are sweatshirts, pullovers, and an overwhelming number of t-shirts.
Naomi Osaka. Photo/The Daily Guardian
The Air Zoom GP Turbo sneakers from NikeCourt are also included in the capsule, which comes in three different colourways to fit the collection’s colour pattern. All of the pieces in the lineup are either orange, grey, black, red, or green.
These are the colours that the tennis player loves. The 24-year-old was in charge of the photography, styling, and curating for the collection.
For example, a beautiful cropped tennis vest with functional utility pockets and thoughtful accents like Osaka’s insignia, which is a stylised version of the Japanese “Lucky Cat,” is a standout piece.
Naomi Osaka New face For Victoria’s Secret
In November 2021, Osaka that she is Victoria’s Secret Vs Collective new face.
Secret Vs Collective is an initiative by the fashion brand to women from diverse backgrounds to collaborate and work on corporate partnerships.
She joins globally acclaimed models Paloma Elsesser, Hailey Beiber and Valentino Sampaio at Victoria’s Secret.
Osaka, a former world No.1 told WWD that she was always inspired by VS’ work when she was little. Nonetheless, she wondered why none of the women on the store’s walls had a woman look like her.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login