Naomi Osaka plays on an alternate sort of court. All things being equal, the motivation she took from Kobe Bryant — who became “addicted” to tennis in retirement — stays similarly as solid.

Naomi Osaka wrote an ardent letter to Bryant on Instagram saying thanks to her “Big Bro” for his motivation and sympathy. Bryant and his 13-year-old little girl Gianna were two of nine who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday.

Bryant submerged himself in tennis after his 2016 retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers. “I played a lot of tennis, and all of a sudden, I found myself addicted to it,” Bryant told at the U.S. Open. He commended Osaka, 22, and Coco Gauff, 15, and has the experience of being a youthful genius to impart to them. He conversed with Osaka regularly and was in her box at the U.S. Open alongside Colin Kaepernick.

Naomi Osaka Remembering Kobe Bryant

Osaka tweeted on Monday, “Hey…I don’t really know what to do so I’m writing you this letter,” 

“Thank you for being you.

Top Stories

Tiger Woods Told to Seek Bryson DeChambeau’s Help as $500M Golf Project Hits a Rough Patch

Patrick Reed Pays a Heavy Price for Exiting LIV Golf as Worrying Update Surfaces

Did Brooks Koepka Make the Cut at Farmers Insurance Open 2026? His 2nd Round at Torrey Pines Explored

Travis Kelce Confirms Sporting Decision Away From Chiefs After TE’s Major Career News

Blue Jays Told to Thwart Dodgers’ Plan After Scott Boras Pushes 24-Year-Old Star to Reject Reds’ Historic Deal

Josh Allen Officially at Risk of Losing 21 Players as Bills Coach Quits Hours After Joe Brady Announcement

Thank you for inspiring people everywhere, you have no idea how many hearts you’ve touched.

Thank you for being so humble and not acting as big as you are.

Thank you for caring and checking up on me after my hard losses.

Thank you for randomly texting me ‘You ok?’, cause you know how f***ed up my head is sometimes. Thank you for teaching me so much in the short time I’ve been lucky enough to have known you. Thank you for existing.

You will forever be my big bro/mentor/inspiration. Love you.”

Bryant was a close friend of both Federer, Novak Djokovic. In Addition to Naomi Osaka, many other tennis players expressed their condolences.

Roger Federer said that when he heard of Kobe Bryant’s death, he could not believe it. Kobe Bryant even took part in the coin toss during Roger Federer’s match against Dan Evans and the two also shared a hug.

Similarly, Nick Kyrgios wore his No. 8 shirt in the Australian Open’s fourth-round match against Rafael Nadal. Feliciano Lopez, Matteo Berrettini, Novak Djokovic, Denis Shapovalov and many others paid homage through their social networks.

After that, Rafael Nadal, at the end of the match with Kyrgios, had words of affection and admiration for Bryant.

In Addition to the letter, Osaka Tweeted “It’s like everyday they release some more Kobe videos and stuff for everyone to cry about. This feels like an alternate reality.” This Happened after LeBron James’ tribute video surfaced online.