Watch the Powerful First Trailer For Netflix’s Upcoming ‘Naomi Osaka’ Docuseries

Naomi Osaka, Netflix’s latest sports docuseries, will be centered around tennis’ biggest stars.

Netflix has just released the trailer for Naomi Osaka: a new three-part documentary that gives an inmate look at one of the most remarkable sports figures in recent memory.

 The documentary covers the last two years of Osaka’s meteoric rise. Naomi Osaka became tennis’ biggest star in 2018, when she beat her childhood idol Serena Williams in the U.S. Open.

 The synopsis of the upcoming documentary reads:

 “With unprecedented access, we follow Osaka during a historic two years in which she works on her game but also begins to find her voice. Whether she’s defending her grand slam titles — while wearing masks in defense of Black lives — mourning the unexpected loss of mentor Kobe Bryant, or finding her independence, the challenges Naomi faces on a personal level begin to align with those in the public sphere. Empathetic in its approach, the series chronicles Osaka’s hectic training and travel schedule, explores the layers of pressure she is under and reveals how she spends her time off the court hanging with her closest family and friends.”

 The docuseries was directed by Garrett Bradley, the woman who directed Time, one of the best movies released last year. Speaking about the Naomi Osaka docuseries, Bradley said:

 “The series is about Naomi’s journey, within a snapshot of her life, but it’s also about life’s purpose, about personal worth, about the courage that it takes to allow one’s personal values to inform their work and vice versa.”

 Naomi Osaka has been one of the most talked about sports figures of the year. In May, Osaka withdrew from the French Open after being hit with a $15,000 fine for not participating in press interviews. The reason she gave was that she was struggling with her mental health. 

 When she announced her withdrawal, she wrote on Twitter:

 “I think now the best thing for the tournament, and the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris… I would never trivialize mental health or use the term lightly. The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that.” 

Naomi Osaka, which will be three 40 minute episodes, will be released on Netflix on July 16. Check out the trailer below.