Naomi Osaka rose to the top of her fame when she defeated former world no. 1, Serena Williams, in 2018 and won four Grand Slam titles. However, tennis did not remain her only forte. The Japanese player pushed herself to reign in other fields too. That included fashion, business, crypto, etc. Despite having doubts about her capabilities, she compared herself with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Tom Brady.

With the launch of Evolve, she has further solidified such comparisons. With her agent and his wife, Stuart Duguid and Carly, the trio laid the foundation of Evolve, their own sports agency.

Naomi Osaka compared herself to LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Tom Brady

The Japanese tennis star opened up about the struggle of finding her own place in this world. And that led her to continuously doubt her talents. Eventually, she focused on comparing herself with the likes of NBA stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant and NFL star Tom Brady. In an interview with Boardroom, co-founder Stuart Duguid recalls when she came to him and his wife and looked at the likes of legendary players. He quoted what she said, “Why can’t I be like all these male superstars?”

Working with Stuart Duguid, Osaka has gone on to become the highest-paid WTA player on the court.

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Despite having a rough year on the court, Osaka has used her expertise in new fields which have ranged from the fashion industry to the entertainment industry. This diversity shows the growing engagement of Japanese players outside the realm of tennis.

Naomi Osaka, Who Battled Past Mental Health Obstacles, Admires ‘Courageous’ Simone Biles Over a Huge Decision – ‘She Has Great Intentions’

Moreover, Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has become the first tennis player to sign with Osaka’s sports management company, Evolve.

Osaka once regretted not contacting Kobe Bryant because of yet another comparison

Naomi Osaka is an ardent basketball fan. Eventually, with her rise in the tennis world, she got in close touch with many of the world-renowned basketball players. And this included the legendary NBA player, Kobe Bryant. However, the comparison had come up again. She felt she was too weak to be compared to him mentally and, therefore, hesitated to contact the LA Lakers legend. However, she did not know at that point time that it would become one of her life’s biggest regrets. Kobe Bryant tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in January 2020.

WATCH THIS STORY: When Naomi Osaka encountered difficult interaction with the press 

Nonetheless, the player has come out strong and now Osaka leads not only with a strong mindset but also with an ambitious heart, both on and off the court.

Will she return to her best form on the WTA Tour in 2023? Let us know in the comments.