Naomi Osaka admitted that she considered quitting tennis during her long absence from the game, but she eventually changed her mind.
The reason why Osaka was absent from tennis in the first place was that she didn't really enjoy playing. She was overwhelmed with anxiety and just didn't enjoy any of it anymore.
You didn't have to be a body language expert to see that she wasn't feeling it. Nobody was really surprised that she announced a break from the sport, and nobody should be really surprised that she felt like quitting.
Ahead of her return at the 2024 Brisbane International, the Japanese player revealed that it happened around the Japan Open in Tokyo in 2022.
Yeah, I would say right after Tokyo for, like, a month maybe I was thinking about it because I felt like all my joy went away for the sport. I felt like it kind of wasn't fair, both for the people watching and myself. But then I thought, like, I've played tennis since I was 3, and there's so many more things that I want to do.
Her love for tennis returned in 2023 as she found new ways to be motivated. Motherhood is a big part of that because she wants to show her daughter somebody who has big goals and dreams. She wants to be a good role model, and tennis gives her a really good outlet to be just that.
Especially with Shai, I want her to see, like, someone that has big goals and dreams. I think that's really important to have really good role models. Also, just learning how to appreciate the sport.
I think in the time I had away, I appreciated the sport a lot more. After giving birth, I understood how physical and how much work it takes to get there. I'm very curious to see what happens in my match.
The return is here. She'll be taking the courts in a few days against Tamara Korpatsch, a tricky opponent who can beat any player if you give her a chance.
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