The Way Champs Play

Born in Japan to a Haitian-American father and a Japanese mother, Naomi Osaka has lived and trained in the United States since age three. She has been ranked No. 1 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and is the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles. She is also a four-time Grand Slam singles champion. Along with being one of the world's most celebrated athletes, Osaka has gained significant recognition as an activist, showcasing support for Black Lives Matter and becoming a mental health advocate after withdrawing from the 2020 French Open for mental health reasons. She's been named one of the 2020 Sports Illustrated Sportspersons of the Year and included on Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019, 2020, and 2021, as well as 2021 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year. Finally, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she became the first tennis player to light the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony.

About the Illustrator

Kamala M. Nair grew up in Kerala, a small state on the southwestern coast of India surrounded by exotic wildlife, stunning beaches, lush green hills, and turquoise backwater. She is a professional architect and a children's book author and illustrator. She recently illustrated The Way Champs Play, written by tennis champion Naomi Osaka. Kamala loves to travel and be immersed in the beauty of culture, architecture, and people around the world. She currently lives in Kerala. Follow her on Instagram @kamala_nair.