NAOMI OSAKA GIVES UP U.S. CITIZENSHIP TO PLAY FOR JAPAN IN 2020 OLYMPICS by Black Cotton Apparel

Tennis star Naomi Osaka has decided to take sole Japanese nationality over US citizenship with a view to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

Two-time grand slam champion Osaka, who was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and Haitian father but was brought up in the US, told NHK that it gives her "a special feeling to try to go to the Olympics to represent Japan."

According to Japanese law, those with dual nationality must chose one before turning 22 years old. Osaka's 22nd birthday is on October 16.

"I think I will be able to put more of my emotion into it by playing for the pride of the country," she told NHK.