Naomi Osaka Children: Everything to Know About Her Daughter Shai

Naomi Osaka is known around the world for her remarkable tennis career, but away from the court, another role has become just as meaningful to her: being a mother.

The four-time Grand Slam champion welcomed her daughter, Shai, in July 2023 with rapper Cordae. Since then, Osaka has spoken openly about how becoming a parent changed her perspective on tennis, life and her own identity. While the athlete and Cordae have generally kept their daughter away from the public spotlight, Osaka has occasionally shared small details about Shai and her experience raising her.

In her new Tubi documentary, Naomi Osaka: The Second Set, Osaka gives viewers a closer look at the challenges of returning to professional tennis while raising a young child.

Here is everything to know about Naomi Osaka’s daughter Shai, from her birth and unique name to her parents and the special place she holds in Osaka’s life.

Who Is Naomi Osaka’s Daughter Shai?

Shai is Naomi Osaka’s first child. She was born in July 2023 to Osaka and rapper Cordae, who had been in a relationship since 2019.

The couple kept much of Osaka’s pregnancy relatively private, although the tennis star did share some major updates with fans. In January 2023, Osaka announced that she was expecting her first baby.

At the time, she described the pregnancy as a new chapter in her life and said that taking time away from tennis had given her a fresh appreciation for the sport.

She also looked forward to a future when her child could watch her compete.

Osaka later revealed that she was expecting a baby girl in June 2023.

When Was Shai Born?

Shai was born in July 2023.

Her father, Cordae, publicly revealed her name while performing at the Calgary Stampede in Canada. During the performance, he told the audience that his daughter had been born only a few days earlier and dedicated the show to her.

The announcement gave fans their first public confirmation of the baby’s name.

Osaka later discussed her daughter’s name and explained why it was meaningful to both parents.

What Does the Name Shai Mean?

The name Shai has a special meaning for Osaka.

During an interview around the 2023 U.S. Open, Osaka explained that Shai means “God’s gift.” She said she wanted her daughter to feel that way, describing her as a gift to both herself and her father.

The choice also fits with what Osaka had previously said about wanting a baby name that felt more unique than traditional.

Before Shai was born, Osaka had told PEOPLE that she and Cordae were discussing names and were interested in something distinctive.

The couple ultimately chose a short name with a meaningful message behind it.

Naomi Osaka Became a Mom During Her Tennis Career

Motherhood came at an important point in Osaka’s professional life.

When she announced her pregnancy, Osaka was already one of the biggest names in tennis. She had won four Grand Slam singles titles and had reached the No. 1 ranking in women’s singles.

Pregnancy meant taking time away from competitive tennis, but Osaka made it clear that she planned to return.

Her comeback became an important part of her story as a professional athlete and a mother.

Just six weeks after giving birth to Shai, Osaka was already sharing glimpses of her training and workouts as she prepared to get back on the court.

The road back was not simply about physical preparation. Osaka has also spoken about the emotional side of becoming a parent while trying to continue a demanding professional career.

Osaka Says Shai Changed Her View of Tennis

For Osaka, becoming a mother did not mean the end of her tennis career.

In the trailer for Naomi Osaka: The Second Set, she talks about the different identities she carries and describes her return to tennis as a love letter to mothers.

She also pushes back against the idea that having a child ended her career. Instead, she explained that motherhood made her feel as though a new part of her career had started.

That perspective has become a major theme in her story.

Osaka has talked about wanting her daughter to eventually watch her play and understand what her mother accomplished on the tennis court.

For an athlete whose career has already included some extraordinary achievements, having Shai watch her compete gives her another personal reason to keep going.

Osaka Has Shared Only Small Glimpses of Shai

Although Osaka has spoken about motherhood, she and Cordae have been careful about protecting Shai’s privacy.

They have generally kept their daughter’s face away from social media and have not made her a regular part of their public lives.

Osaka did share a first glimpse of Shai shortly after her birth, though. In the photos, the newborn was shown wearing a white onesie decorated with tennis motifs.

The post also included pictures from Osaka’s pregnancy and her time in the hospital.

Her caption jokingly described the birth as a short intermission before she returned to her regular schedule.

The moment offered fans a tiny look into Osaka’s new life without revealing too much about her daughter.

Shai’s Nursery Has a Peaceful Cloud Theme

Osaka also opened up about preparing a nursery for her baby.

She wanted the room to feel peaceful and comfortable for both herself and her daughter. The design eventually centered around a cloud theme.

Osaka said choosing the final creative direction was difficult because she liked several possibilities. The finished nursery featured soft colors, different textures and a cloud mural on the walls.

The idea was to create a calm environment for Shai during those early months.

It was one of the more personal details Osaka shared about preparing for motherhood before her daughter arrived.

Osaka Has Spoken About Her Own Motherhood Journey

Becoming a mother has also changed the way Osaka thinks about the future.

Before Shai’s birth, Osaka spoke about wanting to become the best version of herself for her child. She acknowledged that she had never been a mother before and that she was learning as she went.

That honesty has continued since Shai was born.

Osaka has described motherhood as a strange but meaningful experience because another person now depends on her. She has also said that she still turns to her own mother for advice.

That family connection is something Osaka hopes will continue through generations.

She knows what it feels like to have a mother as a source of support, and she looks forward to building that relationship with Shai as her daughter grows older.

Shai and Osaka’s Focus on Mental Health

Mental health has been an important subject throughout Osaka’s public life, and motherhood has given that work another personal meaning.

Before Shai was born, Osaka partnered with Modern Health on children’s meditation content focused on mental wellness.

Her goal was to help young people learn about mental health and emotional well-being at an early age.

Osaka has also spoken publicly about her own experiences and the importance of taking care of mental health.

For her, creating a healthier environment for children is not only a professional or public issue. It is also something she wants for her own daughter.

Will Shai Watch Naomi Osaka Play Tennis?

Osaka has talked about the excitement of eventually having Shai watch her compete.

In August 2025, she revealed that Shai was expected to attend the U.S. Open and watch her mother play tennis for the first time.

Osaka joked that she did not know how loud her daughter might be during the match.

It was a sweet milestone for the family because Osaka had imagined this moment even before Shai was born. During her pregnancy announcement, she wrote about looking forward to the day when her child could watch one of her matches and proudly tell someone, “that’s my mom.”

That moment now represents something much more real for Osaka.

Naomi Osaka and Cordae’s Relationship

Osaka and Cordae began dating in 2019 and welcomed their daughter together in 2023.

The pair became a high-profile couple because of their careers in completely different areas. Osaka was one of tennis’s biggest stars, while Cordae had established himself in hip-hop.

Their relationship later ended, with the former couple confirming their breakup in January 2025.

Despite the end of their romantic relationship, Shai remains an important connection between them.

Both Osaka and Cordae have generally maintained a level of privacy around their daughter, allowing her childhood to remain mostly outside the public eye.

What Osaka’s New Documentary Reveals

Naomi Osaka: The Second Set gives viewers a more personal look at the tennis star’s life as she balances competition and motherhood.

The documentary focuses on Osaka’s return to tennis and the changes that came with becoming a parent.

For fans who have followed Osaka’s career for years, Shai represents a completely different chapter in the athlete’s life.

Osaka is no longer speaking only about rankings, Grand Slam tournaments and training. She is also talking about what it means to build a life that makes sense for both herself and her child.

Shai is still very young, so much of her life remains private. But from the small glimpses Osaka has shared, it is clear that becoming her mother has had a deep impact on how the tennis star sees her career and future.

For Osaka, Shai is not simply part of her life away from tennis. She has become part of the reason Osaka sees her journey on the court differently.

As Shai grows older, fans may see more moments between the mother and daughter, especially as Osaka continues competing. For now, though, Osaka appears committed to giving her daughter a childhood that is as private and normal as possible while she continues pursuing her own goals.