Naomi Osaka waves Haitian flag after Miami Open win, celebrates heritage

After securing a victory over Liudmila Samsonova at the Miami Open on Mach 21, Naomi Osaka took a moment to celebrate her Haitian heritage. As fans cheered, she walked over to a supporter holding a Haitian flag, draped it over her shoulders, and smiled. 

The gesture came just days after Osaka’s viral tweet about Haiti’s independence debt, in which she questioned France about repaying the billions Haiti was forced to pay after gaining freedom.

Earlier this week, Osaka mentioned her connection to Miami, calling it a place that feels like home. Born in Japan to a Haitian father and Japanese mother, she moved to the U.S. at age 4 and later relocated to South Florida, where she trained as a rising tennis star.

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— ً (@tennisgif3) March 21, 2025

Osaka’s celebration was more than a personal victory; it was a continuation of her advocacy for Haiti. According to Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald, Osaka’s 2018 visit to Haiti left a lasting impact on her. She was welcomed like a head of state, meeting with government officials and being named a goodwill ambassador for Haitian sports. Her family has also long supported education in Haiti, funding a school in Jacmel.

In addition, Osaka founded the Osaka Foundation, which provides tennis and education programs for disadvantaged children in Haiti. Through this work, she continues to elevate Haiti’s presence on the world stage, both in sports and beyond.

Osaka’s next match at the Miami Open will be against Hailey Baptiste on Sunday, March 23. If she wins, she will face either Jasmine Paolini or Ons Jabeur in the fourth round.

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