Naomi Osaka might've been riding high in 2019 as one of the best tennis players in the world, but that didn't mean everyone in the public eye knew who she was, including now-partner Cordae.

The Grammy-nominated rapper had never heard of Osaka prior to the couple's first date at a Los Angeles Clippers game in 2019. 

The couple reminisced about how they met in a 2021 interview with GQ, which resurfaced on Monday. 

'If you asked me about tennis, before being immersed in it because of Naomi, I could only give you Venus and Serena Williams, you know?' Cordae told GQ. 'Because they’re just a part of the culture.'

The couple clearly hit it off as they returned to courtside at a Clippers game in 2021, once fans were allowed back within earshot of players after the height of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Most of the public found out the couple were dating at the 2019 U.S. Open, where Cordae was in attendance to watch one of Osaka's matches as the No 1 seed. 

Osaka got upset in the fourth round of the tournament that year, but Cordae got a full picture of his girlfriend's popularity. 

Since, Osaka and Cordae have mostly kept their relationship private. 

Osaka returned to tennis earlier this year, before participating in her first Australian Open as a mother. 

Osaka, now unranked, lost to No 16 Caroline Garcia in straight sets.