Blacks History Month: Naomi Osaka ‘s Historic Australian Open Victory And Where She Stands Among Tennis’ Elite List Of Black Athletes

On February 20th, 2021, Japanese-born tennis star Naomi Osaka won her 4th Grand Slam Singles Title when she cruised past American Jennifer Brady in the Australian Open Final. It was also her 2nd Singles Title in the “Land Down Under.” Osaka’s win puts her at 4-0 in her first 4 Grand Slam Singles Finals and third in undefeated Grand Slam streaks to open a career, trailing Monica Seles, who was 6-0 in her first 6 Grand Slam Finals, and Roger Federer, who was 7-0 in his first 7 Grand Slam Finals. Naomi Osaka’s victory was also historic because it was the first Australian Open held in the month of February in 100 years, and it coincided with Black History Month.

Osaka first made headlines following her victory at the 2018 U.S. Open Final when she beat her role model Serena Williams in straight sets, claiming her first Grand Slam Singles Title at the age of 20. She built upon this success by winning the Australian Open in 2019 for her second Grand Slam Singles Title, just a few months after her 21st birthday. Since these early victories, Osaka has remained a top-five player and added two more Slams to her résumé.

In a sport not known for its diversity, Naomi Osaka not only represents the future of elite WTA Tennis, she also joins a short list of black tennis players who have won Grand Slam Singles Titles. The list most notably includes: Arthur Ashe, Venus and Serena Williams, Althea Gibson, and Sloane Stephens. Osaka’s four Grand Slams puts her ahead of both Ashe (3) and Stephens (1), while trailing Gibson (5), Venus (7), and Serena (23).

The 23-year-old Osaka uses her voice to inspire others to be better and be more inclusive. Her stated career goals include wanting more black girls to get involved with tennis, and she wants to play long enough to be beaten by someone who considers her a role model, just like when she beat Serena Williams.

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