Don’t Miss These 5 Fierce Photos of Tennis Pro and SI Swim Cover Girl Naomi Osaka in Malibu

The four-time Grand Slam winner and mom of posed for the magazine in 2021.

Ananya Panchal | Jan 10, 2024

Naomi Osaka was photographed by Yu Tsai in Malibu.

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Professional tennis player Naomi Osaka traded her sporty tennis gear for a series of sleek one-pieces and bikinis for her SI Swimsuit feature several years ago. She was photographed by Yu Tsai in Malibu, Calif., and landed on the front of the 2021 issue.

“I’m so proud to be the first Japanese and Haitian woman to grace one of the covers. I feel like that multi-cultural background is present in all of the things that I do. I try to incorporate it in everything, so hopefully, you see that,” Osaka, who was also the first Black athlete to be featured on the front of an SI Swimsuit Issue, said. “My memories [of the magazine] kind of involves the people that I grew up admiring, so I remember Tyra Banks’s issue, I remember Beyonce’s. Just growing up and watching so many incredible women grace this cover, for me, it feels like a dream.”

The four-time Grand Slam winner, who made history as the first Asian player to hold the No. 1 ranking in singles and the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam tournament, was also named SI Sportsperson of the Year in 2020.

The 26-year-old welcomed a baby girl named Shai, whom she shares with her boyfriend, rapper Cordae, last July, and took a year off from the courts. She returns to the Australian Open later this week, and in honor of the exciting moment, we are throwing it back to six of our favorite photos from her 2021 SI Swimsuit cover photoshoot in Malibu, Calif.

Naomi Osaka was photographed by Yu Tsai in Malibu, Calif. Swimsuit by Norma Kamali. Earrings by Beads Byaree.

Naomi Osaka was photographed by Yu Tsai in Malibu, Calif. Swimsuit by Frankies Bikinis x Naomi Osaka. Earrings by Misho.

Naomi Osaka was photographed by Yu Tsai in Malibu, Calif. Dress by Di Pesta. Necklace by Khiry.

Naomi Osaka was photographed by Yu Tsai in Malibu, Calif. Swimsuit by Frankies Bikinis x Naomi Osaka. Earrings by Taylor Nikole.

Naomi Osaka was photographed by Yu Tsai in Malibu, Calif. Swimsuit by MIKOH. Top by Love Label. Earrings by Beads Byaree.

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!

Published Jan 10, 2024

ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Before joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she worked at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. When she is not writing or doom-scrolling on social media, Panchal can be found playing sudoku, rewatching One Tree Hill or trying new restaurants. She's also a coffee and chocolate (separately) enthusiast. Panchal has a bachelor’s in communications and journalism from Boston University.