Does anyone else feel like Naomi Osaka and rapper Cordae [1] have been together for way longer than two and a half years? It could be because within the last year or so, we've learned so much about their budding romance, like how Cordae had no idea who Naomi was [2] when he asked if they could exchange numbers, or how they kept their relationship under-wraps for nearly a year. If you were to ask the couple, they'd tell you they prefer to keep the intimate moments of their relationship [3] just that — intimate. "We were dating for almost a year before people knew about us. So we kind of move very reclusively," Cordae told GQ in a joint interview with Naomi back in February.
Since they went public with their relationship in late 2019, the two have been joint at the hip. From the snippets they do share with us, it's clear they're quite the match. Read about their adorable meet-cute and more adorable relationship moments ahead.
April 2019: It's Rumoured Naomi and Cordae Are an Item
Though it wasn't public knowledge yet, at this point in time Cordae and Naomi had started seeing each other. Speculation that the two were more than friends began circulating as they made flirty advances towards each other on social media, and Cordae was popping up on Naomi's IG stories [4] more and more frequently.
June 2019: Cordae Cheers on Naomi at the 2019 US Open
Cordae unofficially confirmed his relationship status to the tennis superstar when he cheered on Naomi at the 2019 US Open. Though it wasn't given much attention, this was the couple's first public outing. Looking back, Cordae recalls feeling "very out of place" at the tournament [5], which also happened to be his first time ever watching professional tennis in person. "That was my first time being in an environment like that in my entire life," he told GQ in a 2021 joint interview with Naomi. "My elementary school, middle school, high school was 99.9 percent Black. Kids who look like me. It just felt really weird for me being in that space. That was my first tennis match ever."
December 2019: They Make Their First Official Appearance as a Couple
It looks like Naomi and Cordae can definitely get a little bit sentimental. With their relationship officially in the open, the pair stepped out together on the eve of their one-year anniversary from when they first met. To celebrate, they went back to the place where it all started: Staples Centre. Photos were captured of the two snuggling up with each other [7] throughout the night.
September 2020: Cordae Accompanies Naomi to the 2020 US Open
Cordae was alongside Naomi at the 2020 US open, though his attendance wasn't originally planned [8], Naomi recalled to GQ earlier this year. She explained that typically her father is the person who accompanies her to all her tennis tournaments because "he's sort of like the guy that keeps me calm." However, because of COVID-19, her father was unable to make the journey, so Cordae stepped in. "During the whole New York thing and with everything that was going on, I started to feel really depressed. Sometimes I would call Cordae, and maybe in some of the calls I would cry," Naomi said. "And he flew out, even though he was really busy. I really appreciated that." Of course, how could anyone forget Cordae's spirited reaction [9] when he saw Naomi clinch the championship title?
July 10, 2021: Cordae is Naomi's Date to the ESPY Awards
At the 2021 ESPY Awards, Naomi was awarded best athlete in women's sports [11], and though the couple did not make their red carpet debut, they did take a few photos together before and after the awards ceremony, which Naomi later shared to Instagram [12].