By Alberto Amalfi | Thursday, October 10, 2019
Naomi Osaka will give up American citizenship in order to represent Japan at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Photo credit: Toray Pan Pacific Open
Dual days are over for Naomi Osaka.
The 21-year-old Osaka will officially relinquish American citizenship and represent Japan in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
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Osaka, who already represents Japan in tournament play, was born in Osaka, Japan to a Japanese mother, Tamaki Osaka, and Haitian father, Leonard François. She grew up in New York and Florida and typically spends time off tour in the Sunshine State.
Japanese law requires Osaka choose either Japanese or American citizenship by her 22nd birthday, which she will celebrate on October 16th.
The two-time Grand Slam champion captured back-to-back championships in her hometown of Osaka and in Beijing where she rallied past world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty to extend her winning streak to 10 matches.
Osaka, who received enthusiastic crowd support during her run to her hometown title, said she's pumped up to play for Japan in the Tokyo Olympics.
"[It's] a special feeling to try to go to the Olympics to represent Japan," Osaka told Japanese television network NHK. "I think I will be able to put more of my emotion into it by playing for the pride of the country."
The former world No. 1 has said she hopes to partner her friend and compatriot Kei Nishikori in a Japanese mixed doubles dream team at the Tokyo Olympics.
“Anyone that knows my doubles track record knows that I'm down,” Osaka said at the US Open last month. “So the thing is I would play. Like, I would definitely play with him. I would actually need to practice doubles for the first time in my life.
"Because you cannot play mixed doubles with Kei Nishikori and lose in the first round of the Olympics in Tokyo… I would cry. I would actually cry for losing a doubles match. “Yeah, definitely I think that that would be so, like, historic in a way. And I would love to do it, but I need to practice my doubles.”
Nishikori said he plans to play singles and doubles at the Tokyo Olympics and would talk to Osaka about the prospect of a joining forces.
"I will play men's doubles, for sure,” Nishikori said. “With that condition—very hot, very humid—playing singles and two doubles, I don't know if I can.
"I haven't (had to) think too much yet honestly. I don't know. I will talk to Naomi later."