"I don't feel like I'm in my body" - Naomi Osaka attributes recent poor form to 'post-partum' body issues

Former World No.1 Naomi Osaka failed to qualify for the 2024 Cincinnati Open, falling in the qualifying rounds. However, the Japanese superstar believes her dip in form is due to physical issues she has faced after giving birth.

The four-time Grand Slam champion took some time away from the WTA Tour to give birth to her first child, daughter Shae over a year ago in July. After returning to competitive tennis this January, Osaka has experienced a dip in form, resulting in her losing at early stages in several tournaments.

In a letter posted to Instagram, Osaka shared some news with her fans regarding her recent performance. The 26-year old was eliminated from the qualifying rounds of the Cincinnati Open, falling to American Ashlyn Krueger. Subsequently, Osaka posted a letter describing her emotions.

"My biggest issue currently isn’t losses though, my biggest issue is that I don’t feel like I’m in my body," Osaka wrote. "The only feeling I could liken myself now to being postpartum. That scares me because I've been playing tennis since I was three, the tennis racquet should feel like an extension of my hand. I don't understand why everything has to feel almost brand new again.
"It’s a strange feeling, missing balls I shouldn’t miss, hitting balls softer than I remember I used to. I try to tell myself, ‘It’s fine you’re doing great. Just get through this one and keep pushing,’ mentally it's really draining though. Internally, I hear myself screaming 'what the hell is happening?!?!'"
"During this time, I’ve wondered what do I want out of this whole experience and I realized something, I love the process (though the process doesn’t love me sometimes haha), putting in work everyday and eventually having the opportunity to get to where you want to be.
"I know life isn’t guaranteed so I want to do the best that I can with the time that I have, I want to teach my daughter that she can achieve so many things with hard work and perseverance. I want her to aim for the stars and never think her dreams are too big."

Nonetheless, Osaka's next tournament will be at the US Open in New York later this month, where she is likely to receive a main draw wildcard considering she's a two-time champion at the Grand Slam event.