Docu Series on Naomi Osaka reveals the imbalance between the player’s public and private life

Gurnaaz Kaur

Bordering on the lines of public image of an athlete and the internal turmoil that no one knows, the Netflix documentary is an insight into the life of the international Tennis champion Naomi Osaka.

The player herself begins the narration with how she chose the sport at the age of three and at the age of 10 she knew she had to be the best at it. Along the process, came worries, weaknesses and insecurities that Naomi isn’t afraid to share. A lot goes into the success of any athlete. We may know this but to hear it from the best adds a new dimension to the mere understanding of some words.

Director Garrett Bradley has poured years of work in gathering facts about the life of Naomi to be able to portray the slow incessant burning out of the young star. The documentary is not aimed at interrogating or interviewing Naomi but instead shadows her life to reveal the drastic imbalance between what the public perceives and what an athlete lives. This series is not solely about Naomi’s tennis career but about a wide breadth of her life experiences. Bradley has tried to expose the athlete in all her innate forms, focusing on her drive, her pride, her ambition, her worries and her responsibilities that she struggles with.

Naomi’s pride in her Japanese heritage has also been showcased gracefully through subtle nuances across the documentary- the décor in her room or the way she worries if her spoken Japanese language is at par with what is expected of her.

Naomi refers to herself as a “vessel” for dreams and desires of other people. This thought process continues to grow within her until she finally questions her existence, the very meaning of her life and the sport she has dedicated it to. The depiction is not burdened with the expectations of an ongoing narrative.

It’s a thorough encapsulation of Naomi’s journey, the way she rises and becomes an international sensation, following the many highs and lows, capturing her growth even as she struggles with the pressures of being where she is today. Finally becoming the person who is fully in control of her life and the game she plays.

The painstaking story of transformation ignites many an emotion in you as a viewer but that’s what a great piece of art is meant to do. As we get a snapshot of a time in Naomi’s life, raw and unfiltered (adding to the authenticity of the account), one feels compelled to applaud both the subject and its creator. I would highly recommend it not only to Naomi and tennis enthusiasts but also to those who want to know what goes into the making of a real athlete.