'Even Stepping On Court Is Personal Win' For Osaka After Brutal Brisbane Loss

Thursday, 04 January 2024 at 04:45

byZachary Wimer

Naomi Osaka spent over a year away from the tennis courts due to first mental health issues and then also a pregnancy.

There is a very good chance that Osaka would have returned to the sport sooner if it weren't for her pregnancy, as she addressed her mental health issues and seemingly got better.

In the end, life went differently, and Osaka found herself absent from the sport for a long time. It wasn't a huge problem for her as she became a mother, something she considers a blessing and something that helped her find her passion for tennis again.

She's been outspoken about wanting to set a great example for her daughter, and being great at what she does is certainly one way to do it.

She returned at the 2024 Brisbane International, where she won her first match but lost the next one. It's unfortunate because she was so close to winning, but it didn't leave her completely devastated. Just being on the court again was a win in her mind.

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Yeah, I mean, I think for me even stepping on the court is a personal win because a couple of weeks ago I was even doubting if I could play with everyone. So I guess these two matches that I've had kind of prove to me that I am doing okay, and the year is just going to get better for me.

Many will closely follow how Osaka does in the coming weeks because this was pretty encouraging. Everybody knows how well she can play and with enough time on the court and enough work, she is certain that she'll get there. Let's see if she's right.

Even though it's super disappointing today, I know that if I keep training and if I keep putting in the work, then I'll eventually get to where I want to be.