By Jack Tarrant

TOKYO (Reuters) – Because the world’s highest paid sportswoman and a three-time Grand Slam champion, Naomi Osaka isn’t any stranger to the highlight, however forward of the discharge of her personalised vary of attire made with sponsors Nike, the 23-year-old was nervous.

“My Nike assortment drops tomorrow… nervous just isn’t sufficient to explain this sense,” Osaka tweeted earlier than the gathering launched on Monday.

In Might, Forbes reported Osaka’s 12-month earnings at $37.four million, giving her the sting over her idol Serena Williams as the very best paid feminine athlete in historical past.

Most of Osaka’s earnings comes from set of profitable sponsorship offers, together with with automaker Nissan, All Nippon Airways and Nike, who signed her to a reported $10 million-a-year deal in 2019.

The discharge of her personal Nike assortment, similar to her late hero Kobe Bryant, is especially particular.

“I’m so completely satisfied about this assortment,” Osaka advised Reuters through electronic mail on Thursday.

“I used to be very concerned within the design course of. I knew precisely how I needed the gathering to be represented.”

“It is vibrant in a approach that represents my heritage and the way I talk my sense of fashion.”

Heritage is central to all the things Osaka does.

Osaka, who was born to a Japanese mom and Haitian father, has been an outspoken supporter of the Black Lives Matter motion each in the USA, the place she resides, and in Japan.

Throughout her run to a second U.S. Open title in September, Osaka wore a distinct facemask for every match, every carrying the identify of a Black American to spotlight racial injustice.

Osaka mentioned her favorite merchandise within the assortment is a long-sleeve camo shirt that has the flags of Japan, Haiti and the USA on the sleeve.

“I’m at all times so completely satisfied to have a good time my multicultural background and that’s precisely why we integrated all three flags,” mentioned

“It’s a celebration of variety and inclusion and I’m proud to put on them.”

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Osaka is at present making ready for January’s Australian Open, a event she received in 2019, and the world quantity three is happy to return to competitors after a yr disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Issues are going rather well,” mentioned Osaka. “I’m prepared to begin competing once more.”

(Reporting by Jack Tarrant; Modifying by Lincoln Feast)