Naomi Osaka Silences Fans Who Think Pregnancy Will Destroy Her Tennis Career

Naomi Osaka has one message for those criticizing her tennis future as a mom — mind your business!

The Japanese athlete has been making headlines as one of the most talented biracial stars in the sports industry. Despite her impressive record, some people believe it is their place to judge the Chūō-ku native's ability to continue her stellar feats.

After announcing she is expecting her first child with her boyfriend Cordae, the 25-year-old has received unsolicited opinions about her career. Finally tired of the speculations, the Glamour Award honoree clapped back at haters with a fiery post.

On May 12, in "The Way Champs Play," the author defended her unborn baby's impact on her life by slamming trolls who believed the child's presence would affect the athlete's career. Taking to Twitter, the soon-to-be mom fired back at critics in a powerful message.

Telling these trolls to get off her case, the BET Award recipient savagely quipped, "Btw to the people that are suddenly concerned about my career- Plenty of male athletes with kids are significantly less accomplished. You might wanna worry about them instead."

"Thanks for the concern. Might wanna redirect it to someone that needs it, though," the 25-year-old concluded, adding in a separate tweet that beef was only with her haters. "Not trying to make this a male and female thing, but let's be fr," the media personality chimed.

Supporting her message, devotees joined the slam feast against critics in the comment section. "True fans just want to see you happy and enjoying life. If you end up back on the court, we'd love to see you," an individual claimed.

"Chew them up, girly," a fellow admirer encouraged Osaka while another penned, "Exactly! They should be happy for you, congratulate you, and then shut it. Hope you're feeling great."

The Women's Tennis Association's former world No. 1 ranker's response to trolls came days after the 25-year-old shared a unique detail about her pregnancy. In an Instagram photo dump, the Japanese beauty seemingly hinted at her unborn child's gender.

The Olympian shared images highlighting her days as she counted down the months to her first child's arrival. The first picture captured the ESPY Award winner's natural beauty as she promoted a product from her skincare brand, Kinlò.

Down the carousel were scenes from a beach, a roadway enveloped with lush greenery, and a glimpse at the media personality's flawlessly toned legs alongside a close-up picture of her skincare product. However, the post's highlight was a collection of Nike footwear.

The designer brand's merchandise, five in total, featured various designs and sizes specifically for children. The smallest pair, blue, gave off the same masculine vibe as the other shoes, as though they had been made for a boy.

Although Osaka did not mention anything about expecting a son in her caption, her fans were quick to spot the possible hints at her child's gender. Many congratulated the Chūō-ku native for having a son, while others implored the beauty mogul to confirm their assumptions.

Earlier in January, the four-time Grand Slam singles champion announced she would be going on a hiatus to prepare for motherhood. In the candid Instagram post, the 25-year-old confirmed she was expecting her first child with the rapper Cordae.

The Olympian shared a picture of her ultrasound alongside two passionately penned messages written in English and Japanese. Both notes reflected the soon-to-be mom's decision to step away from the field for her baby's sake.

In the post captioned "Can't wait to get back on the court, but here's a little life update for 2023," the athlete confessed that the past few years had been an "interesting" journey. However, the media personality found the rainbow within her stormy skies.

"I find that it's the most challenging times in life that may be the most fun. These few months away from the sport have given me a new love and appreciation for the game I've dedicated my life to," Osaka raved.

Sharing her hopes for the future, the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year honoree wrote: "One thing I'm looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, 'That's my mom.'"

As for her return to tennis, the Chūō-ku native assured fans that she would see them at the next Australian Open. "I hope I'll see you guys at the start of the next one cause I'll be at Aus 2024. Love you all infinitely," Osaka sweetly concluded.