Naomi Osaka struggles to reconnect with tennis after returning from maternity leave
Naomi Osaka, the former world number one, has candidly shared her difficulties in readjusting to tennis after taking a break for maternity leave. The Japanese star, who made her return to the WTA Tour in January following the birth of her daughter Shai in July 2023, is grappling with a sense of disconnection from her game.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has found it challenging to regain her peak performance, with her best result this year being a quarter-final finish at various tournaments.
In a recent Instagram post, Osaka revealed her internal struggle, stating, “My biggest issue currently isn’t losses, though; my biggest issue is that I don’t feel like I’m in my body.”
The 26-year-old athlete described experiencing an unusual sensation of misalignment with her game, where she is missing shots she used to make effortlessly and feels her strokes lack their former strength.
“It’s a strange feeling, missing balls I shouldn’t miss, hitting balls softer than I remember I used to,” she explained. Osaka expressed the mental strain this has caused her, saying, “Mentally it’s really draining.”
Osaka’s challenges were evident when she was eliminated by American Ashlyn Kreuger in the second round of qualifying for the Cincinnati Open.
Reflecting on her recent performances, Osaka likened her current state to the post-partum phase, saying, “The only feeling I could liken how I feel right now to is being post-partum.”
Despite her struggles, Osaka remains a formidable competitor, having pushed world number one Iga Swiatek to the limit in a thrilling second-round match at the French Open in May.
Nevertheless, she admitted her frustration with the feeling of having to relearn aspects of the game she once mastered. “This should be as simple as breathing to me, but it’s not,” she said.
Looking ahead, Osaka is set to compete at the US Open, where she has previously won two titles.
She acknowledged the need to extend herself grace during this period of transition, hoping to rediscover her rhythm and return to her former self on the court.
