Naomi Osaka Talks Navigating Mom Life as an Athlete: 'No Stranger to Hard Work'

Osaka welcomed her baby girl in July

Naomi Osaka is opening up about the support it takes to be a mom and an athlete.

The four-time Grand Slam champ, 26, debuted a new video announcing her partnership with Bobbie, the mom-founded pediatric nutrition company.

Osaka rocks a baby as her monologue begins about the hard work behind her return to tennis. "You know what pushes me? You," she says as the camera pans to Osaka, whose daughter Shai's name is seen on a necklace worn by the new mom.

"Parents, we push harder," Osaka — who shares her 6-month-old with rapper Cordae — says as the video closes out.

In the caption, she wrote, "Being a parent is hard. As a professional athlete, I am no stranger to hard work or early mornings, but the last 6 months as a new mom has given me a whole new appreciation and understanding of what parents do every single day."

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Related: Naomi Osaka Says She Had to Fight the ‘Thought That I Won’t Be a Good Mom’

"Parents, moms in particular, are historically told that babies will be a barrier to personal goals — that they will stop you from achieving your dreams. But I have discovered that Shai is my ultimate motivator; she makes me want to achieve greatness," Osaka continued.

"I’m proud of myself for continuing to chase my dreams while also being a mom. And I recognize that I’m fortunate to have the support to return to work this month on my own terms, in my own time. So many American parents don’t have that choice. But we ALL deserve it."

Osaka went on to explain her partnership with Bobbie, introducing the N.O. Support Grant to help ensure new parents have the resources they need for their families to thrive. Osaka and Bobbie are committing to make 50 cash grants — of $580, representing the minimum monthly benefit that would be available if the Family and Medical Leave Act were passed — for 50 families to provide interim support while advocating for federal paid leave.

The tennis pro recognized that she has the "immense privilege of having the emotional and financial support to take on motherhood with no question of the impact to my career."

"If anything, from the moment I found out I was pregnant, I was more motivated than ever to continue competing for my daughter, not in spite of her," Osaka's statement announcing the partnership reads.

"This is not the collective experience of most Americans and that’s why federal paid leave is so essential so all Americans can enter parenthood with the support structures and resources they need to thrive – whatever that looks like for them and their family."

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