Book review/ ARC: Naomi Osaka - Her Journey to Finding Her Power and Her Voice by Ben Rothenberg

I used to play tennis when I was younger, but have now resorted to sitting on my couch and cheering for my favorite players when they show up on my TV screen. When Naomi Osaka first appeared on the tennis circuit, I immediately took a liking to her. Because she was obviously a gifted player, for one. But also because she seemed to be extremely shy at first (I could relate) and had a very unique background. (Biracial, like myself, too, so an added layer of interest from my side.)

This biography, written by one of the most prolific tennis journalists around, chronicles Naomi’s life from her humble beginnings in Japan, the relocation of the family to the US, the parents’ dream that their daughters follow in the footsteps of Venus & Serena Williams, Naomi’s rise as a promising young tennis player, her social activism and mental health struggles, to the birth of her daughter & the staging of her comeback (this year!).

While I knew bits and pieces of Naomi’s story, it was lovely to fill in the blanks and see her journey described with such vivid details, like the infamous US Open final against her idol Serena, to name just one example. But I especially enjoyed the chapters where she “found her voice”. I remember that time so vividly (the masks she wore at the US Open) and applauding her for using her voice and platform to take a stand against racism & social injustice & speaking openly about her mental health. I appreciate that the author gives these issues as much space as Naomi’s victories (and losses) on court.

Sure, it’s a sports biography, so it’s heavy on the tennis, but reading this also feels like getting to know Naomi as a person, not merely an athlete, and I really enjoyed that. I’ll be rooting for her, on and off the tennis court. Thank you @netgalley, @duttonbooks and @benrothenbergwrites for the advanced reading copy. Naomi Osaka - Her Journey to Finding Her Power and Her Voice is out on Tuesday, Jan 9th!

I've followed Ben Rothenberg on Twitter since its inception, and when I heard he was working on a project about Naomi Osaka, I knew her story was in good hands. Because of his position as one of the world's top tennis journalists, he was able to get access to not only Osaka and her family and team but other players, coaches, media, and those involved in the tennis world. While she is quite prolific in her social media use, she has said that it takes time for her to process things and thus this book gives her a chance to ruminate on events long past. It paints a full picture of Osaka and her world.

On a minor note, I appreciated Rothenberg's retelling of the 2020 US Open, which Osaka won. She famously sported seven different masks en route to her seven different wins, each inscribed with the name of an innocent Black man or woman murdered in racially-motivated attacks: George Floyd, Philando Castile, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, and Trayvon Martin. Rothenberg doesn't just name them but also gives a brief description of who they were and what happened to them. He also details how Osaka herself encouraged people to learn their stories and how that encouragement led to citizens of her native Japan who were not likely to know about the Black Lives Matter movement to research and educate themselves. I believe he did Osaka proud.

I really enjoyed Naomi Osaka's biography by Ben Rothenberg. The book covers Naomi's life from her own birth to the birth of her daughter. Prior to reading this book I had heard of Naomi Osaka but did not know much about her or professional tennis. After reading this book, I have so much respect and admiration for this amazing woman. The first half of the book covers her childhood which involved a move from Japan to the US so that she and her sister could train for tennis from a very early age. The dedication of her parents is truly inspiring.

The second half of the book covers Naomi's incredible career tournament by tournament, match by match. The author captured Naomi's comments and press interviews in Naomi's own words which gave a wonderful and authentic view of Naomi. She is a model of great sportsmanship and has paved the way for athletes from all bakcgrounds because of her bravery. She has made heartfelt statements on racism, social justice and metal illness that will continue to have profound impacts.

Naomi is powerhouse both because of her physical strength and the impact of her words. I sense that the author really knows Naomi and I sincerely hope that she feels good about how she was portrayed. I highly recommend this inspiring biography to anyone, but especially to young adults who are trying to find their voice in the world. I am really excited to see what is next for this incredible woman!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.