It comes as no surprise that Naomi Osaka is a powerhouse. It’s evident throughout her career, from her rise through the tennis world to her unwavering mental health advocacy. Now, the 23-year-old sport star can add another accomplishment to her resume.
Directed by Academy Award nominee Garrett Bradley, Netflix and Osaka are teaming up to release a docuseries all about the tennis player’s life and monumental journey to the top.
The three-part self-titled series is set to chronicle themes of her “life’s purpose, about personal worth, about the courage that it takes to allow one’s personal values to inform their work and vice versa,” the filmmaker revealed in a statement.
The daughter of a Haitian father and Japanese mother, Osaka has become the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles tennis and the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam. In 2020, the athlete was named the highest-paid female athlete in the world, surpassing fellow tennis star, Serena Williams.
Aside from her athletic prowess, her support of mental health has been just as impressive. The docuseries airs soon after Osaka’s withdrawal from the French Open in May and from Wimbledon in June in order to focus on her mental health, however, she plans to return for the Tokyo Olympics later this year.
For those who not only want to see Osaka’s impressive swings on the court, but also the young tennis star’s commitment to activism, both in her sport and in the Black Lives Matter movement, then Naomi Osaka is a must-watch for you.
Below, everything we know about the Naomi Osaka docuseries—from the subject matter to the trailer to the release date.
What Is The Story Behind The Naomi Osaka Docuseries?
As for what Osaka herself hopes the docuseries will offer her audience? As well as insight into her character, the docuseries will highlight the social issues and movements she’s lent her voice to. “The platform that I have right now is something that I used to take for granted, and for me I feel like I should be using it for something,” she said in a statement about her self-titled series.”I believe, instead of following, you have to make your own path.”
Naomi Osaka will follow the athlete’s two-year journey as she rapidly becomes one of the world’s greatest tennis players, as well as moments where she valued using her voice. Especially on the court, such as when she wore a mask honouring George Floyd and the lives lost to police brutality and racism.
Director Garrett Bradley revealed that “more than anything, I’d hope people can feel the power of empathy and to feel encouraged to take chances in life, perhaps especially in moments where the stakes can feel impossibly high.”
From one look at the trailer, it’s easy to see that the series is set to dive deep into Osaka’s Haitian and Japanese heritage and her family life, neither of which are all that public.
“Whenever I’m in hard situations, [my dad has] always told me my ancestors were on the ship for, like, 40 days,” she explains in the preview. “I use that as strength.”
Is There A Trailer For The Naomi Osaka Docuseries?
Netflix released docuseries’ first trailer on July 8. The glimpse into the series shows Osaka forming her own identity, worrying about her worth and maintaining a “squeaky reputation”, and questioning who she would be without those things.
“For so long, I’ve tied winning to my worth as a person,” she says in the trailer.
“Anyone that would know me, they know me for being a tennis player. So what am I if I’m not a good tennis player?”
When Will The Naomi Osaka Docuseries Be Released?
Keep your eyes peeled for three 40-minute episodes of the docuseries airing on Netflix on July 16.
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