"Hard To Watch Everyone Competing While Sitting Out": Osaka admits struggles being off court during pregnancy
ATP
Naomi Osaka
admitted that it was challenging to continue on the WTA tour during her pregnancy.
The
Japanese tennis player has faced a lack of consistency in the past two years
since she withdrew from the 2021 French Open due to mental health issues. Since
then, Osaka has struggled to achieve the same level of success that led her to
win four Grand Slam titles and reach the world No. 1 ranking.
After the
2021 Roland Garros, she only participated in the Cincinnati Open and US Open
that year. In 2022, she halted her schedule after being eliminated in the first
round of the French Open by Amanda Anisimova, and a few months later, she
announced her pregnancy with her partner, Cordae.
Just days
before the birth of her daughter, Osaka opened up about how challenging it was
for her to keep up with the tournaments during the year:
“I remember
following the Australian Open a little bit earlier this year, and it made me
upset because I’ve never missed an Australian Open. It was kind of hard to cope
with those feelings of wanting to be there really badly. I wouldn’t trade this
for the world, but it was just hard to watch everyone competing over there [while
I was] sitting out,” Naomi Osaka said.
Naomi
Osaka's plan to return to tennis is scheduled for the 2024 Australian Open, a
tournament she has already won twice. In 2019, the Japanese player defeated
Petra Kvitova 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-4 to become the champion in Melbourne for the
first time. Two years later, she claimed the trophy again by comfortably
defeating Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-3.
Apart from
her two Australian Open titles, Osaka has also won the US Open twice (in 2018
and 2020). However, she hasn't performed as well in the other Grand Slam
events, as she has never advanced past the third round in Roland Garros or
Wimbledon.
At 25 years
old, Osaka has already held the world No. 1 ranking and aims to return to the
top of the WTA rankings in 2024. She spent a total of 25 weeks as the
top-ranked player on two occasions, losing the position both times to
Australian player Ashleigh Barty.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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