"Never really thought if I had a kid, I’d go back on the tour": Osaka admits stigma behind whether to return to tennis after having a child
WTAFriday, 04 August 2023 at 11:30
Japan’s tennis star Naomi Osaka has revealed that she never
expected to return to court after becoming a mother.
The 25-year-old has recently given birth to the child and
to the surprise of many, returned to the court training just 15 days after
becoming a mother.
Osaka, while talking to Mountaintop Conversations podcast,
stated that she never thought of continuing playing after becoming a mother.
“Actually, there was a lot of pressure I felt for me,” she
said.” For me, I always had the assumption that if you have a kid, it’s
basically the end of your career. I don’t really see a lot of women on the
tennis tour with kids. They are usually a bit older, and it just seems like a
very hard taxing on your body.
“I just never really thought if I had a kid, I’d go back on
the tour. But I feel like it was a magical moment for me. It just made me think
of all the things I love and appreciate and it just made me really want to work
hard… I’ve played tennis since I was three and I want to appreciate the time
that I can still play.”
Osaka is famous for being vocal about the mental health of
athletes and it is because of this reason she has taken some breaks from
professional tennis as well.
The former world number one has not played a single game
since September 2022 when she announced that she will take another break, but
this time due to pregnancy.
It will be interesting to see whether she will be able to
recoup her best form once she will resume tennis activities.
Osaka has won four Grand Slam titles in her career. Her
first victory was winning the US Open back in 2018 whereas her most recent
triumph came in Australian Open when she lifted the title in 2021.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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