Naomi Osaka was on the cusp of quitting tennis altogether and pursuing a life of serenity, as revealed in a new biography.
Her biography, "Naomi Osaka: Her Journey to Finding Her Power and Her Voice," has been written by American sportswriter Ben Rothenberg and is due to be released in the second week of January next year. It aims to give an in-depth look at Osaka's personal and professional life.
Osaka won her first Grand Slam title at the age of 20 in 2018, beating legendary American Serena Williams in the US Open final. The Japanese player wasn't just an overnight success but had the temerity to ultimately fulfill her teenage hype after a stellar 2018 season.
Osaka soon became a household name in tennis thanks to her growing list of tennis accomplishments, inviting scrutiny from media and fans, while sponsors queued on her doorstep. But as the Daily Mail reports, Osaka was seemingly "dissatisfied" with Rothenberg quoting the Japanese star saying, "I don't know how to describe it and how to fix it."
The 26-year-old has been a victim of mental health struggles in the past and touches on her long battle with depression in the book. Osaka confesses that she was sobbing uncontrollably even as the number of endorsements multiplied.
She reached her lowest point at one tournament in Charleston. Osaka "hoped" she would lose so that her tennis career would end there. What she wanted was to detach herself from tennis and find a different life, in a farm.
"I just woke up one day in Charleston before one of my matches thinking what is the point of my life. I was thinking, should I just go buy a farm and grow crops. And then I had to go play my match and I was thinking in my head – like, wow, I hope this girl beats me so I don't have to be here anymore."
The Japanese star is expected to make her much-anticipated return to the tour in Brisbane in just under two months' time. After taking a maternity leave almost 12 months ago, the four-time Grand Slam champion appears ready to tackle the second phase of her career.
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