Naomi Osaka creates history after featuring on the 2021 SI Swimsuit cover

The wait for 2021 SI edition is finally over. Megan Thee Stallion, Naomi Osaka, and Leyna Bloom are your SI Swimsuit 2021 cover models.

The three legends were photographed separately in locations across the U.S. from Florida to California. The result is three separate history-making covers showcasing three groundbreaking women.

Naomi is the first Asian player to hold the No.1 ranking in singles and the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam tournament. She becomes First Haitian and Japanese woman on the cover.

Naomi Osaka is no doubt an athletic powerhouse. At 23, she holds four Grand Slam titles and is headed to Tokyo to compete in the Olympics. This comes after defeating former U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur in her WTA Tour debut at just 16. Since then, her aggressive playing style and 125 mph serve stand out in the tennis world and have made Naomi one of the most marketable athletes.

But it’s her strength and power off the court that make Naomi a true legend. She’s raised awareness about racial injustice, human rights and mental health, cementing her as one of the most outspoken professional tennis players.

She was named one of the 2020 Sports Illustrated Sportspersons of the Year for her activism and was on Time’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019 and 2020. The pro gets to add another title to her extensive résumé: the first female Black athlete on an SI Swimsuit cover.

SOURCE : SPORTSILLUSTRATED