Naomi Osaka, I might quit tennis if my daughter asked me to

Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka has raised doubts about her future, saying she would consider quitting tennis if her three-year-old daughter asked her to. The Japanese tennis player, winner of four Grand Slam titles, took a 15-month break from the sport after Shai's birth, before returning to the court in 2023. Currently in Tokyo to participate in the Pan Pacific Open, Osaka explained that motherhood has changed her priorities. "I wouldn't say that tennis has become a part-time activity, but my day is no longer entirely dedicated to that," said the 29-year-old, now number 19 in the world rankings.

"It's difficult; sometimes I think about the future and often wonder how much longer I will play. If my daughter told me she didn't want me to travel so much, I wouldn't be the kind of person to ignore a request like that." In 2021, Osaka had already stepped away from tennis to prioritize her mental health. She said that as time goes by, her "way of thinking is changing a lot. My daughter is my top priority."

Osaka explained that reconciling her commitments as a tennis player with those as a mother is a balance she is "finding little by little". He also expressed support for US tennis player Coco Gauff, who said she received an "insane" amount of racist abuse online during this month's China Open. Gauff, world number five and of African-American descent, described the experience as "quite exhausting". Osaka, born to a Japanese mother and Haitian father, commented that "no one should ever have to go through something like this." "It's sad, but as far as I'm concerned, I'm used to it," she added. "I've had to deal with this situation my entire career, because of decisions I make that apparently bother someone. It's tough."