Naomi Osaka Posts Concerning Messages But Also Refuses 'To Be Sad'

Naomi Osaka's recent posts on the social media platform Threads were somewhat worrying, but she also sought to alleviate those concerns afterward.

Osaka is already out of the 2025 Madrid Open after losing in the opening round to Lucia Bronzetti. Clay has never been the Japanese star's best surface, but it was still a disappointing setback in what looked like a winnable match.

The four-time Grand Slam winner seemed to be in her best place for a few years at the start of the season, reaching the final of the 2025 ASB Classic and beating Caroline Garcia and Karolina Muchova at the 2025 Australian Open.

Osaka also performed well in her round of 16 run at the 2025 Miami Open. She came close to getting to the quarterfinal, but fell in a closely contested battle with the French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini.

However, positive results do not always indicate that a player is feeling good. Osaka has been open about her mental health struggles and is passionate about others getting the support they need to support their wellbeing.

A short post on Threads a few days ago highlighted how much Osaka struggles with the thoughts in her head. The former WTA world No. 1 wrote that she would not wish what is in her brain on anyone, even someone she hated.

A separate post gave another indication that Osaka was finding things challenging, although it was somewhat vague. The term "trust the process" is regularly espoused by athletes, but Osaka felt the process was not trusting her.

Osaka confirmed she had been finding things challenging in a third post released the next day, but the two-time US Open winner said her 'crashout' was over, and she didn't intend to be sad anymore.

Osaka has generated attention and concern with her comments on social media on numerous occasions over the years. The 27-year-old previously admitting to mental health difficulties means there is concern when she posts something about her feelings.

Hopefully, Osaka is okay and in a good place. It has been a roller coaster few years for her, including the birth of her daughter, Shai, which led to Osaka missing the entire 2023 season due to being on maternity leave.

The rapper Cordae is Shai's father, but he and Osaka are no longer together. They announced an amicable separation earlier this year, with Cordae continuing to play an active role in his daughter's life.

Despite expectations for Osaka being lower during the clay court swing, she showcased her potential on the dirt at the 2024 French Open, when she held a match point to defeat Iga Swiatek at the tournament where the Pole has traditionally dominated.

Swiatek staged a dramatic comeback to win one of the best matches of the season. Osaka will try to replicate that level during the rest of this year's clay court swing.