Naomi Osaka spoke about her mental health issues after winning tournaments like Indian Wells and the Australian Open.
The Japanese tennis player emerged as one of the most promising players at a very young age. At just 21 years old, Naomi Osaka won the US Open by defeating Serena Williams in the final.
Unlike some other players, Osaka proved to be more than just a "one-hit wonder" and won her first two Grand Slam titles and two WTA 1000 events at the age of 22. In 2021, she secured her fourth Grand Slam title, which is her most recent achievement so far.
During the podcast "Mountaintop Conversations," Osaka opened up about her mental health and when she started to feel that she was facing issues.
“The first time I felt really depressed was after I won Indian Wells. It happened again when I won 2020 USO, & Beijing. I was in China, crying on court. After I won AO the 2nd time, I felt I had to do something bc I don’t want to keep living this way”
When many predicted a long-lasting dominance from the Japanese player, she began to speak about her struggles with depression and anxiety, especially after the 2021 French Open.
At that tournament, she announced that she wouldn’t speak with the media due to the anxiety it caused her, which eventually led to her withdrawal from the event before playing her second-round match.
"I actually didn't know what mental health was. Growing up, no one was really talking about it. I think honestly the first time I heard about it was after I pulled out from the French Open. It's not like I had a dark childhood or anything, it's just that everything was so focussed on tennis," said former world No. 1.
“It got to a point after I won the Australian Open for the second time [in 2021], I felt I needed to do something about it because I don't want to keep living this way," she said.
Since then, Osaka has struggled to maintain consistency, although she reached the final of the 2022 Miami Open, where she ultimately fell to Iga Swiatek, who came into the match on a streak of 16 consecutive wins.
The Japanese player is currently off the WTA tour in 2023 due to her pregnancy and the recent birth of her daughter. As a 4-time Grand Slam champion, she hopes to make her comeback in 2024 with the ambition of returning to the top of the rankings and continuing to win major tournaments.
Naomi Osaka on depression “The first time I felt really depressed was after I won Indian Wells. It happened again when I won 2020 USO, & Beijing. I was in China, crying on court. After I won AO the 2nd time, I felt I had to do something bc I don’t want to keep living this way”💔
