SUMMARY
- Naomi Osaka returned to the WTA tour after a 15-month maternity break.
- Naomi Osaka faced a lot of challenges physically and mentally during pregnancy.
It has been a decade since Naomi Osaka debuted on the WTA tour. She was 16 years old while playing at the Bank of the West Classic event. Osaka won her first match and went on to lose the next one. Since then, it has been a historic run for her on the tour. Osaka has proven her versatility on the court and has also been a trendsetter off the court.
The Japanese made a comeback this season after being on a maternity break. She did not play a match for 15 months. Osaka gave birth to a baby girl, Shai, in July last year. It was a major milestone in her life, and a few weeks later, she was back to practicing on the court. Osaka has taken another bold step in her life with the pediatric nutrition company, Bobbie.
Naomi Osaka’s motherhood journey
Osaka played her first competitive match after becoming a mother at the Brisbane International. She won the opening round and lost in the next match. Along with her comeback to the sport, Osaka understood her responsibilities as a mother. Her life had changed in the past few months. After the birth of her daughter, she understood how difficult it was to embrace the changes.
Well that was a cool little intermission, now back to your regularly scheduled program 🎾✌🏾💕 pic.twitter.com/M6jZXqbRMm
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) July 13, 2023
Osaka had spoken about the challenges of being a mother for the first time. The impact of pregnancy is not only physical but also mental. Since she had to spend most of the time traveling on tour, she decided to formula-feed her child and thus joined hands with Bobbie. Mothers are expected to breastfeed the child, but Osaka has been breaking the stereotypes with Bobbie.
Why did Naomi Osaka choose Bobbie for her daughter?
Osaka had embraced the changes in her body while becoming a mother. She understood the challenges it brought to her. Her decision was questioned as she was at the peak of her career. But it did not seem to affect Osaka, who was determined to continue her career after the pregnancy. She initially struggled to find means for her daughter, just like other mothers.
When Osaka found Bobbie, she wanted to be the face of change among mothers. According to the Bobbie website, 20,500,000+ bottles of Bobbie have been supplied. Bobbie also allows guests to go through their nutritional content on the website. Their formulas meet FDA requirements and are organic. Customers can fill in details, and their babies’ requirements will be mailed.
The four-time grand slam champion felt it was the right choice for her family. After pregnancy, she needed time to help her mind and body recover. Now Osaka is stronger than ever and will play more matches this season.
Steps taken by Naomi Osaka in collaboration with Bobbie
The former world No.1 wants all mothers to have the kind of support system she has. Osaka and Bobbie will be introducing cash grants for 50 families. The campaign will be providing $580 to each family to help them in their first year of parenthood. Osaka felt that each parent should have the freedom to feed their babies and how they choose to return to their jobs.
“Babies are not a barrier to overcome, but rather our motivation to achieve greatness” 💪
Incredible to see @naomiosaka in @bobbiebabyco‘s latest campaign 🎾🍼
Go Bobbie, go! pic.twitter.com/bD6HP4O6oc
— NextView (@NextViewVC) January 11, 2024
The campaign will also see Bobbie and Osaka advocating for the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act. The act, when passed, will grant $580 every month, 12 weeks of paid leave, and job protection for the new mothers. The 26-year-old is determined to make changes in the society with her influence. Osaka wants to become a champion off the court as well.