"You kind of have to cherish the years that you can play": Naomi Osaka returns to tennis with new perspective and new role model goal

Naomi Osaka discussed her return to the WTA Tour after a year away due to her recent motherhood. The former world No. 1 last played at the 2022 Tokyo Open but withdrew before her second-round match. Currently unranked, she aims to compete for major titles once again.

Osaka opened up about her recent motherhood, emphasizing how it has changed her perspective on tennis since the birth of her daughter, Shai. The 4-times Grand Slam champion acknowledged that the extended absence helped her appreciate the time spent on the court.

The 26-year-old has struggled to find consistency since her 2021 Australian Open title. Apart from reaching the final of the 2022 Miami Open (defeated by Swiatek), Osaka has not achieved significant results. She withdrew from the French Open due to mental health issues and later took time off for her pregnancy.

“I've stepped away from tennis before, but this time, it was the longest duration of my life. And I think it kind of gave me a perspective like, 'Hey, you're not going to play tennis forever. And you kind of have to cherish the years that you can play,'" she noted.

Osaka also opened up about the time since her daughter's birth and her goal to be a role model:

"I do want to be a good role model for Shai, and I want her to see that this was an important chapter in my life." I don't think people know how hard pregnancy is; no one really talks about it as much.

Returning to the Tour at the ATP 500 Brisbane Open in the first week of January, Osaka will then travel to Melbourne to prepare for the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open, where she has already claimed the trophy twice (2019-2021).