Naomi Osaka denies being close to quitting tennis before recent success

Tuesday, 02 September 2025 at 19:00

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byErik Virostko

Naomi Osaka waited for her big breakthrough since becoming a mother for some time, and it finally came in recent weeks.

It's been almost two years since Osaka returned to the tennis courts at the 2024 Australian Open. She often had good mini-runs, but ran into some of the best players in the world, who then stopped her before she could achieve a significant result.

Good opponents were not the only thing stopping her. She was on her way to the China Open quarter-finals last year before being forced to retire against Coco Gauff, and she also retired from the ASB Classic final and her third-round match at the Australian Open.

After losing some tight matches and having to retire a few times as well, the big breakthrough finally came for Osaka at the Canadian Open in Montreal. She reached the final, only losing to Victoria Mboko, who played a superb event.

Now, Osaka was able to follow up on that result at the US Open, reaching the quarter-finals in New York. As a result, she will enter the Top 20 on the WTA Tour again, establishing herself among the best players once again.

After her fourth-round win against Coco Gauff, Osaka was asked whether she was ever close to quitting during those months when she wasn't doing well, but she said that she was never even close.

"Honestly, not close at all. I don't know if that means, like, I like pain or something. No, it's one thing to say it, but to actually do it, to hang up my racket, for me, permanently would be a very scary thing."

"I've been playing this sport since I was three. I tell people it's like breathing air to me. I wouldn't really know what to do. But I'm really grateful to be here now, and the thought of not playing anytime soon is something that hasn't crossed my mind."

Osaka's journey to her first Grand Slam title since 2021 won't be easy

Osaka has a real shot at winning this year's US Open, but it wouldn't be fair to say that she's among the favorites. Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek firmly hold that status in the women's singles draw a the moment.

However, if Osaka wants to win the title, she might need to beat these players. She will first play against the 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova in the quarter-finals, and then, her semi-final opponent could be the World No. 2, Iga Swiatek.

If Osaka gets past that round as well, her final-round opponent could be anyone from Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula, who are seeded No. 1 and No. 4, to Czech Wimbledon champions Barbora Krejcikova and Marketa Vondrousova.