Naomi Osaka lands Harper's Bazaar Australia January cover: “Finding inner peace”

Depression, expectations, stereotypes, stress, pressure, performance.

These are words any person can identify with, including a professional tennis player. Naomi Osaka was of the first on tour to vocalize mental health struggles, and as the new year approaches, she has a new story to tell.

As a feature in Harper’s Bazaar Australia’s January edition, Osaka details her journey from world No. 1 to four Grand Slam titles to mother of Shai. Stepping into 2025, the superstar admits to finding her own freedom.

“Right now, freedom for me is being able to spend time with my daughter, to see joy in her eyes and to know that, as long as I am there for her, and a role model for her, then no other outside voice matters,” Osaka says in the interview. “In the end, I have found that after becoming a mom, my question has shifted to a really simple one, which is, win or lose, am I still really loving playing the game?”

Hitting the newsstands December 30, Osaka’s extended interview—including the Louis Vuitton photoshoot that coincides—is a glimpse into what can be expected of Japan’s No. 1-ranked player.

“I am still working on finding true freedom in my life, but staying true to my beliefs has definitely helped me reach some sense of personal freedom,” Osaka said. “It has also helped me to put less pressure on myself to be perfect, to bounce right back, to always agree with the group. I work really hard also to be a voice for others who may not have found their own voices yet—[and] that was me for so long.”

The feature also reveals Osaka’s affiliation with Maybelline’s Brave Together campaign. As a global ambassador, Osaka will continue to fight the mental health stigma, and be a leading voice for those who need it most.