Osaka’s growing popularity hasn’t just made her a role model for young athlete hopefuls everywhere, it’s also recently earned the star her own doll with Mattel, appropriately released as a Barbie Role Model. Despite the constant buzz that surrounds Osaka, on and off the court she has always gone at her own pace. With her quiet public image, she has never been one to open up to much, although when she does you can count Osaka for conveying honesty with sophistication.

The general public’s interest in Osaka is certainly attributed to the fact that few are as charismatic and influential as she is at her young age. When asked about how fame has impacted her, the athlete demonstrated a surprising moment of vulnerability. “It isn’t easy,” Osaka admits, “Having so many eyeballs on you, each with an opinion about who they think you are without knowing you first. I try to surround myself with people that know me best. At the end of the day, the only opinion that matters is your own and [that of] the people close to you.”

Strong, like-minded athletes such as Billie Jean King, Venus Williams, and Serena Williams inspire Osaka to work hard on and off the court. And with the pandemic usurping the traditional schedule of many sporting events, the ambitious star has had to retrain her gears and learn to slow down. “It’s amazing how much you can actually accomplish even when you aren’t always on the go.”