Leonard Francois has been there every step of the way through daughter Naomi Osaka’s journey.
Beyond fatherhood duties, he introduced his two daughters to tennis as young girls, their first coach who instilled an early belief in their potential.
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Even as Osaka surged and climbed to the pinnacle of the sport – a four-time major champion, including twice at the Australian Open – sage words were often forthcoming, and welcomed.
Having commenced the second phase of her career when she returned to the tour in January two years ago – following the birth of her daughter, Shai – it all finally clicked again on court for Osaka in the second half of 2025.
In July, after a disappointing Wimbledon campaign, a switch to Iga Swiatek’s highly respected former coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski, marked a new period in Osaka’s career.
It was around that time she also revealed she’d had a deep conversation with her father – in essence on life and the need to treasure the moment.
Serendipitous timing perhaps, but a first WTA 1000 final since 2022 in Montreal ensued before a first Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open since her 2021 Australian Open triumph over Jennifer Brady.
“For sure I think about that moment a lot,” Osaka said. “I think about how time is always ticking. Even when I talk to my daughter now, she likes to watch my practices, which is something new, on FaceTime.
“She'll call. I put her on the chair [on screen]. It's so cute because I can hear her say, ‘Go, Mommy, go’, on the sidelines.
“Honestly, things like that make me realise how much older she's getting and how she's developing. I just wish to experience so many different things with her.
“I never bring her here because the flight is too long, but I hope eventually she'll come one day.”
The 15-hour flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne was something the Japanese superstar was unwilling to undertake with a two-and-a-half-year-old in tow.
Still, Mum had the United Cup to play for Japan in Perth to kickstart her new season, her chosen lead-up event before she hit the practice courts again at Melbourne Park, a site that holds warm memories from her titles in 2021 and 2019.
“Obviously US Open for me was really special. I can only hope to continue in that way,” Osaka said. “But there's, you know, the off-season, there's things that I work with Tomasz.
“I just want to be a better player. There's some points that I regretted in the US Open. I just hope to be able to look back on this tournament however it ends and not have any regrets.”
A first off-season under Wiktorowski’s guidance stands her in good stead ahead of a first round against Croatian 22-year-old Antonia Ruzic.
A potential fourth-round showdown against Wiktorowski’s former charge, second seed Swiatek, is a long way down the line for now.
“Honestly, with Tomasz, I would say the thing I trained most during this off-season, he's more like decision-making for me,” Osaka said. “Like awareness on what's happening during the point. He's definitely alerting me to understand that the ball that I hit was good, so go forward type of thing.
“With him it's more like he trusts my shot-making, but it's the decisions to make in between that time.”
In the meantime, FaceTime calls with Shai fuel Osaka’s tilt from afar and regardless of when the former world No.1’s latest trip Down Under ends this fortnight, there’s sure to be a welcome surprise in store when mother and daughter reunite.
“She loves reading a lot. I always get books from every place that I play or every country,” Osaka said.
“Reading with her is very funny, because she'll kind of memorise the book because she loves reading so much, so we read it so often. She'll read me the next page before I get to it, which is really funny.”
Time is ticking, but there is an upside – Shai inching closer to an age where she too can board that long-haul flight to Melbourne.
Osaka will relish that day she hears “Go, Mommy, go” in person from the sidelines at Rod Laver Arena.