Naomi Osaka opened up about the unexpected challenges she’s been facing on her return to tennis after giving birth in July last year. The four-time Grand Slam champion, who has always been candid about her struggles both on and off the court, has now shared her deep concerns about how her body has responded to the physical demands of professional tennis following her pregnancy.
Osaka’s post came shortly after she failed to make the main draw of the Cincinnati Open, losing to American Ashlyn Krueger in the second round of qualifying. The disappointment was evident, but what struck a chord with her followers was her honest reflection on the strange and disorienting experience of not feeling like herself on the court. “In a weird way I’ve come to appreciate losses,” she wrote, acknowledging the role they play in the journey of any athlete. However, this time, the losses weren’t just a matter of skill or strategy—they were a sign that something deeper was amiss.
The 26-year-old Osaka expressed that her biggest issue wasn’t simply losing matches, but the unsettling feeling that she no longer feels at home in her own body. She described a disconnection, noting how she’s been missing shots she would typically nail, and how her once-powerful strokes now feel…
