Noami Osaka is 20 years old, and poised to break into the top tier of women’s tennis. Osaka grew up in the United States, represents Japan, and for some people, she symbolizes the world’s multicultural future. Osaka challenges assumptions about what it means to bi-racial and to be accepted as truly Japanese. She is half Japanese and half Haitian, and plays under a flag of an island nation known for it’s racial homogeneity.
The US Open begins this week, and while it might be early to choose Osaka as the winner, it’s not entirely unlikely that she will take home the trophy. At 20, she is the youngest woman in the world’s top 20, and the highest rated female player from Japan in over a decade. Two years ago, Serena Williams called Osaka “dangerous”, and she currently trains with William’s old hitting partner.
