Osaka: "I don't want to be famous"

Pedro de Pablos | 27 Jul 2026 | 16.51

Osaka: "I don't want to be famous". Source: Getty Images.

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Naomi Osaka has rediscovered in recent weeks the level that led her to become world number 1 in the WTA ranking before taking a break to become a mother. After months of uncertainty, with a possible retirement looming on the horizon, the Japanese tennis player is smiling again, although she surprised by confessing that she doesn't like being famous, and she is happy with her current situation where she is known more for fashion than for her results.

It is worth noting that Osaka has 4 Grand Slams in her record, although she is still trying to regain the tennis that took her to the top of the rankings a few years ago. In 2018, she rose to fame by winning Indian Wells at the age of 20, and shortly thereafter won the US Open to become a true star, something she had never imagined even in her wildest dreams. In fact, before her debut at the WTA Washington 2026, she spoke about it with the media present.

"When I won Indian Wells, I thought: 'Wow, life can't get crazier than this,' because my mother worked all the time and I hardly saw her, and thanks to that, she was able to retire. I felt that was the highlight. Then the US Open came, followed by everything else, and even now, before this year, with everything related to fashion, I thought: this is probably the highest level," she concluded.

Osaka reveals she is more known for fashion than for tennis

The most surprising aspect of her statements came when talking about her current situation, as Osaka stated that "I actually don't want to be famous, so I'm happy with my current situation. Now people know me more for fashion than for tennis; fashion fans know me more than tennis followers. I feel that every moment has its ups and downs, and it's as if I'm always steadily climbing. Just when I think it has stabilized, something new happens. As for whether my life has changed, I don't know. It's weird. I have never considered myself famous, so I have always done everything I have done so far" she said.

In fact, as she herself states, she now talks more about fashion than tennis, which has its advantages. "Wearing the clothes I wear has forced me to speak much more, especially on topics that I am not necessarily an expert on. As a tennis player, I could probably sit in front of this microphone and talk about tennis for a long time. By broadening my horizons and dedicating myself to fashion, I have been able to talk to people I had never met before. I just try to delve into worlds that I had never imagined exploring."

Defeat in Wimbledon quarterfinals still hurts Osaka

Another topic she addressed with the media was her recent defeat in the Wimbledon 2026 quarterfinals, where she achieved her best result at the All England Club. "Maybe for a couple of days, I was very disappointed with myself. Maybe it's just my mindset, because I am very hard on myself. Obviously, if someone reaches that far at Wimbledon, it's something to be happy about, but for me, I really felt it was my moment to do something. Life goes on, so here I am. It's the surface where I have had my best results, so I can only be optimistic and hope to play very well," she concluded.

After her recent tournaments, there are high expectations for Naomi Osaka in the North American hard court swing, as it is her favorite surface. If she can handle the pressure and the attention surrounding her, the Japanese tennis player will be one to watch closely for another big title and who knows, maybe another Grand Slam added to her record.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Osaka: "No quiero ser famosa"

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