Osaka has made deep and personal connections with some of the greatest athletes of all time. She has referred to Serena Williams as her "mom" and the late Kobe Bryant as her "big bro." Before his death, Bryant texted Osaka after matches, especially losses, to help her remain confident. "There would be some really tough losses. I didn't even know he was paying attention, but he would text me positive things and tell me to learn from it," she told WSJ Magazine. "For me, it was definitely helpful."