“This is kind of my side hustle”: Naomi Osaka delivers brutally honest explanation for skipping Cincinnati

Sunday, 30 August 2026 at 02:30

Skipping Cincinnati was not about form, fitness or a lack of confidence for Naomi Osaka. The four-time Grand Slam champion instead made a deliberate decision to return home to spend time with her daughter, even though she felt comfortable on hard courts and had every reason to keep building momentum ahead of the US Open.

Osaka arrives in New York ranked No. 13 and having won 16 of her last 20 matches since Roland Garros. Her recent results have strengthened her credentials, with the 28-year-old reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon before making the semifinals in Washington and the quarterfinals in Toronto.

Her 2025 North American swing also provides plenty of reason for optimism. Osaka reached the Canadian Open final before advancing to the US Open semifinals, and she has now followed that run with another strong season on hard courts.

The decision to skip Cincinnati therefore came at an interesting moment in her comeback. Osaka explained that she felt she had already played enough tennis and was comfortable with the surface, choosing family time over another week of competition before returning to the tournament where she has won two of her four Grand Slam titles.

Osaka puts motherhood ahead of another tournament

Cincinnati could have provided another competitive match block before New York, but Osaka felt there was little need to add another event to a schedule that had already been busy.

“I do feel like I've played a lot of matches, and honestly, this is the surface that I'm most comfortable with," Osaka said at press conference. "But I think people forget my main job is to be a mom. You know, this is like kind of my side hustle a little bit. I just happen to be really good at it.”

Osaka then made the decision behind the decision clear. Her daughter needed her at home, and that was enough to outweigh another week of competition. It is particularly notable given how little preparation she actually needs to feel ready on hard courts, with the US Open now offering the payoff for the form she has built since the spring.

“But yeah, my daughter, she needed me to be at home," the 4-time Grand Slam champion added. "So I mean, that's just what I felt like was the priority.”

Osaka's US Open challenge comes with real stakes

The choice did not come at the expense of momentum. Osaka has won 16 of her last 20 matches since Roland Garros, reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals before producing another strong run on North American hard courts.

Her 2025 results in the region provide further evidence of her ceiling, although the Canadian Open final and US Open semifinal both ended without the title that would have completed those campaigns.

The difference this time is that Osaka enters New York with another season of competitive evidence behind her and a ranking of No. 13. She knows the surface suits her, but she also knows the tournament can punish an early loss in ranking terms.

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“I feel like I've just been running around the grounds earlier in the morning, just before the crowds come in, and I feel like I've also just been exploring places that I've never been to before. I always feel a little like, ‘Am I allowed to be in here?’ But we keep getting by.”

That same looseness has appeared in Osaka's approach to the rest of the US Open experience. She has embraced the tournament's fashion culture, wearing an Allen Iverson shirt and taking inspiration from NBA and WNBA tunnel walks.

“Honestly, like nothing I do, I feel I do it to make a statement," Osaka said. "I think it just ends up being that way, but I literally do the things that I love to do, and I feel like people relate to it, and I'm really glad and grateful for that because I feel like the type of person I am, a lot of people can see themselves in me.”

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Her explanation of Cincinnati fits the same pattern. Osaka is still chasing major titles and arrives in New York with genuine credentials, but her schedule is no longer built exclusively around accumulating matches. For all the competitive stakes surrounding her No. 13 ranking, the most important decision of her US Open preparation was made away from the court.

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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