Why Naomi Osaka is taking ballet

In conversation with Simone Elliott, Osaka's dance instructor and mentality coach

During the NBA Finals in 2000, Kobe Bryant rolled his ankle. He had to miss the next game, but still powered through for the rest of the series to lead the LA Lakers to the championship. It came at a cost: that summer, he couldn’t play basketball due to the sprain in his ankle. So he took up tap dancing.

“This was the 10th time I’d rolled my ankle in the one season,” he recalled years later. “I’m looking and thinking, I’ve got to address that. I couldn’t get on the basketball court, so what I did was I took up tap lessons. No kidding. Tap was the best training for me in the world, because it strengthened my feet, changed my rhythm, and my approach to the game. I was able to change speeds the following season. I think dancers put way more strain on their body than athletes. I think there’s a lot that can be learned from that.”

Fast forward to December 2023 and Naomi Osaka (who counted the late, great Bryant as a close friend and mentor) was assembling a team to help mount her post-maternity leave tennis comeback. Alongside her coach, physiotherapist and trainer was ballerina Simone Elliott. Consciously or not, Osaka was following in Bryant’s foot steps, and those of other athletes that have turned to dance to aid their game.

Simone Elliott with Naomi Osaka — credit: Elliott

In tennis, Roger Federer was often described as balletic on the court, owing to his effortless technique. The footwork involved in tennis can often appear elegant or instinctive to the naked eye, but takes years of learning and shaping to get right. The same can be said of dance.

Seattle-born Elliott, who spent most of her dance career performing in Europe, knows this all too well. She was sought out by Osaka to help her with her movement on court, with strengthening her core and legs, and more specifically to be able to execute an open-stance, defensive backhand.

Alongside footballers and skiers, Elliott had worked previously with tennis players including Jule Niemeier, Jennifer Brady, and Alison Riske.

I spoke with Elliott a few months ago for Bagel Magazine’s Issue 003 — which is out now! I thought I’d share an extended version of our conversation here, as there was so much about Elliott’s approach that I found really fascinating.

Hope you enjoy the Q&A!