Narrated by Myles David of Tuned Into Tennis. Photos by Paul Crock, Daniel Pockett, David Gray, and Hamish Blair.
Nearly anything can happen during a tennis match, as Naomi Osaka learned in 2021, when a butterfly visited her in the third round.
She tried to gently move it off-court, but it kept flying back to her, even landing on her face.
This surreal interruption resulted in some of the most iconic photos in tennis history. It even foreshadowed Osaka winning the tournament for a second time.
Maybe the butterfly was a good luck charm. Or maybe it was a metaphor for Osaka, who floats through matches with grace, style, and intention.
Through the highs and lows, her journey has been an inspiring metamorphosis, as she broke records, opened up about mental health, and became a mom.
Butterflies symbolize hope and transformation, qualities that Osaka embodies. “The Naomi Effect” is how Nike later referred to this moment.
When you look at these photos, what do you see?
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