Osaka ‘not far off’ her best but often ponders future
Naomi Osaka says she believes she is close to the level that brought her four Grand Slam titles, and is working to rediscover the instincts that helped her win them. As she prepares to play in Tokyo, she has also spoken about how often she thinks about her future in tennis and says she would consider quitting if her daughter wanted her to travel less.
Osaka, 29, won the US Open and Australian Open twice between 2018 and 2021, then stepped away from tennis for her mental health and later took time off during pregnancy. Since returning in 2023, she has climbed to 19th in the world and reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals, the last 16 at the French and US Opens, and the Washington semi-finals. She is seeded seventh at the Pan Pacific Open and faces Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the first round.
In short
- Osaka says she is close to her former Grand Slam-winning form.
- Her daughter is her biggest priority, and she may quit if asked.
- She has returned to world number 19 after time away.
Explained simply
Naomi Osaka is a Japanese tennis player who won four Grand Slam titles, the sport’s biggest tournaments, between 2018 and 2021. She later took time away from tennis for her mental health and pregnancy, and returned to competition in 2023.
Since returning, Osaka has risen to 19th in the world rankings and reached the later rounds of several major tournaments. Her story reflects the challenge of rebuilding a top-level career while balancing the demands of professional tennis with family life.
Osaka has a young daughter, and the international tennis calendar can require players to spend long periods travelling. Her comments about the future highlight how family commitments may shape her decisions about continuing in the sport.