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Defector

Giri Nathan

Coco Gauff of the Untied States returns a shot in the Ladies Singles Quarter Finals match against Jessica Pegula of the United States on day nine of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 07, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images)

Tennis

You Don’t Have To Love Grass To Win On It

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 01: Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates after defeating Coco Gauff of the United States during their Men's Singles Fourth Round match on Day Nine of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

Naomi Osaka Is On To Her Second Act

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

Victoria Mboko of Canada reacts against Naomi Osaka of Japan during the Women's Singles Final match on day twelve of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open at IGA Stadium on August 7, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Victoria Mboko Is Here To Break Brains

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 27: Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts to defeating Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia in the first round on Day 2 of the US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2024 in New York City (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Naomi Osaka Found The Joy

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 2: Corentin Moutet of France in action during Day 8 of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros on June 2, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marleen Fouchier/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

The Defector Tennis Desk Bids Adieu To The French Open

Naomi Osaka leaves the court in tears after her second-round loss at Indian Wells.

Naomi Osaka’s Half-Measures May Not Be Working

Japan's Naomi Osaka bounces her racquet as she plays against Amanda Anisimova of the US during their women's singles match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 21, 2022.

Naomi Osaka Is Out Of The Australian Open, But Happier On The Court

Laura Wagner

Naomi Osaka’s Agent Isn’t Helping

Olympics

Naomi Osaka Is Out Of The Olympics

Journalismism

Tennis Doesn’t Have To Taste This Bad

Naomi Osaka Has Work To Do

Ray Ratto

Will Tennis Blink Before Naomi Osaka Does?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

The Era Of Lady Boss Sports Team Owners Is Upon Us

Naomi Osaka poses with her 2021 Australian Open trophy.

Naomi Osaka Always Closes

Media Meltdowns

Darren Rovell Has An Opinion On Someone Else’s Personality

Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates victory in her Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Serena Williams of the United States during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia.

Naomi Osaka Is The One Who Booms

Naomi Osaka wears a mask with the name of Tamir Rice, who was killed in a 2014 police shooting.