Tennis champion Naomi Osaka has delighted her fans by sharing the first photo of her adorable baby daughter, Shai. Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the 25-year-old four-time Grand Slam singles champion posted a series of heartwarming pictures that chronicle her journey into motherhood, including the much-anticipated debut photo of her newborn.
In the endearing snapshot, Shai’s head is playfully out of frame while she dons a cute white onesie adorned with tennis-themed motifs. Osaka also shared a picture of her baby bump, a snapshot from her time in the hospital, and a delightful image of a picnic featuring balloons that spell out “Mom” in the background.
With a touch of cheekiness, Osaka captioned the photos, saying, “Well, that was a cool little intermission. Now back to your regularly scheduled program đžâđžđ.” The tennis superstar recently welcomed her first child, a daughter, with her boyfriend Cordae in Los Angeles. A source close to Osaka shared with PEOPLE that both mother and baby are doing well.
During a performance at Canada’s Calgary Stampede, Cordae took a moment to dedicate a song to his newborn daughter, Shai, revealing her name to the audience. “My daughter Shai was just born a couple of days ago, so I dedicate this performance to my baby girl Shai,” he announced, adding, “Love you, I’m going back home.”
Back in April, before the arrival of their bundle of joy, Osaka spoke with PEOPLE and mentioned that she and Cordae had been discussing potential names for their baby. “We have been discussing names. I would say that we are going for something more unique than traditional,” she shared. She also expressed gratitude for her “great support system” and attributed her smooth pregnancy experience, in part, to the advice and recommendations shared by the mothers in her life who are at various stages of motherhood.
As Osaka concludes this beautiful chapter of her life, she eagerly looks forward to returning to the tennis court, this time with her little one cheering her on from the stands. “I can’t wait to have my kid in the stands at tournaments,” she expressed to PEOPLE. “I feel like having them there watching will be extra motivation.”
