Naomi Osaka on Speaking Up, Her Quarantine Hobbies, and What Keeps Her Motivated

Naomi Osaka has been pretty busy during quarantine. Osaka further cemented her status as one of the best tennis players in the game right now with her epic win at the U.S. Open. And while she's been excelling on the court, she's also been using her platform to speak out against and bring attention to racial injustice in the United States and the world. During the U.S. Open, she wore seven face masks with the names of victims of racial injustice—Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Philando Castile, and Tamir Rice—during each round of the tournament. It was such a powerful message for many people watching around the globe.

We were so excited to get the chance to chat with Osaka, who also has a role as a BODYARMOR athlete partner and shareholder, about her big U.S. Open win and her activism. And of course, we had to get some questions in about her quarantine routine, beauty tips, and personal style. Here's what she had to say.

First, congratulations on winning the U.S. Open in September! During the tournament, you really inspired so many people—especially young people—by raising awareness for racial injustice. Why was it important for you to speak out?

I was tired of seeing acts of injustice committed against people of color with little done in response, so I decided that I was going to use my platform to raise awareness and stand up for what I believe in.

You have such an incredible drive and work ethic. What gets you motivated?

Sometimes, it takes a lot to motivate myself, but ultimately, I know that I am incredibly fortunate to be in the position that I am in and appreciate the fact that I am able to pursue my dreams as my career.

What are some of the important things you’ve learned about yourself during quarantine and this year?

For the first time ever, I had to get used to the idea of slowing down and staying still. Normally, I am training and on the road for a large majority of the year with only a few weeks of time off. Quarantine allowed me to stop, spend time in my own home, cook, and take on hobbies that I love and don’t have time for like sketching and gaming.

Did you pick up any new hobbies during quarantine?

I have an electric guitar that I have been trying to practice on. (Although, I'm not very good.) I also bought a bunch of art supplies and have been trying to get better at painting and drawing. I have also been sketching a lot.

Everyone needs some self-care and a good wellness routine. What's your routine like? How do you relax and wind down?

I train hard during the day, so downtime is really important to me. After I train, I like to stretch and use my Hyperice to make sure my muscles stay loose. It's also really important that I hydrate both before and after I train. So I make a pre-workout smoothie for energy and a post-workout shake for protein and hydration using BodyArmor Lyte—the coconut flavor is perfect in my smoothie recipes. I also love watching shows (recently, I have been catching up on Killing Eve), and I love gaming. I have been waiting for the PS 5 launch for quite a while. My friends and I will play games like Apex together. I really love free-world games. It's easy to get completely lost in them.

Since our sister site is Who What Wear, we have to ask: How would you describe your personal style, and what are your favorite brands? Would you ever want to collaborate on another fashion collection like you did with Adeam?

My personal style is definitely a mixture of pieces that are athletic and feminine. I love colorful clothing and like to wear sneakers to dress down and make my look a little edgier. I also love discovering new brands and mixing luxury brands with high-street staples. It was really fun co-creating my Adeam collection earlier this year and showing it at NYFW. I also just launched a new collection with Nike that is based on my personal style and heritage, so that is really exciting for me.

And when it comes to beauty, how do you like to express yourself with makeup? What about skincare?

It's the most important thing you can do to preserve your skin. Given how much I do outside, it's crucial that I protect my skin every day with sunscreen. I don't usually use heavy makeup, but I love when my skin is glowing and healthy.

Do you have any rituals before a match? What is your go-to breakfast or meal before a match?

I always eat smoked salmon and avocado on toast almost every day. They always say to not change anything on special days, so I keep it simple, even if it's a match day. I also always have a hydrating green drink with BodyArmor Lyte, spinach, pears, a little bit of lemon, and chia seeds.

Who are your favorite people to follow on social media?

The holy grail: Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj. I love social media and use it to get ideas for my various brand/fashion collabs.

Next up: Allyson Felix on the Postponed Olympics, Training During COVID, and Self-Care