"My biggest role is not as a player but as a mother": Naomi Osaka alters perception on tennis obsession in motherhood

Naomi Osaka admits that while she still loves the game being a mother has in fact changed her perception on the sport and that being as such now is more important to her obviously than the wins and losses defining her ahead of the United Cup.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka who won the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021 said she was taking inspiration from her two-and-a-half year old daughter Shai as she begins 2026. She ended her season in mid October with a leg injury having risen to World No.16 now.

She now faces Maria Sakkari in one of the top games on Friday albeit both are in different spots with Sakkari last playing the former World No.1 in 2021 with the now ranked 52nd player dropping just four games in a resounding Quarter-Final win in Miami. But as she approaches the new year, Osaka admitted it has been a balancing act as of late when it comes to her daughter and training.

But that despite ending her season early due to injury that she is ready to return and play to her best. She showed real signs that it was still there as she employed Tomasz Wiktorowski to great effect who anchored Iga Swiatek for many years before their split and Wim Fissette who ironically formerly coached Swiatek coaching Osaka now.

"My daughter is an incentive, she's (always) in the back of my mind. There are a lot of incredible moms on the tour," the 28-year-old said in Perth. "I was able to spend time with my daughter while I recovered from a long season, even if I didn't play the entire thing. My form will hopefully be good in my matches. I feel in shape and excited for the upcoming season."

But while Osaka for a long time has been that selfish operator when it comes to her own personal goals, that will now shift as she plays in the United Cup for the first time which sees her represent Japan as opposed to just herself. One to ponder for sure. "I enjoy the team atmosphere," she said. "I've wanted to play the United Cup for a long time. You get to play the best in the world straight off the bat."

But she also said that ultimately her new thought process on tennis isn't to be so obsessed anymore as she openly said that the wins and losses would be a defining factor in years gone by and nowadays it is very much the complete opposite.

Osaka is now doing it for her daughter but while she sacrifices for her, she also sacrifices time with her to play that she hopes will be understanded when she gets older and can think about what her mother did in the sport.

"I used to take the wins and losses so seriously, they defined me as a person. Now I take every day as a new opportunity to do better," she said. "My biggest role is not as a player but as a mother to my daughter.

"The off-season was difficult," she added. "I had to try to be there for her but there were moments when I had to train, I hope I'm handling it well.

"I hope when she's older that she understands why I did what I did."