Marion Bartoli believes Naomi Osaka's struggles on the court in 2022 are due to her being too busy with other things.
Many players like to keep a low profile outside of tournaments because of how grueling the tennis schedule is, meaning they do not engage in many activities outside the sport to rest and recover.
Osaka does not choose that approach. The four-time Grand Slam champion has worked on three main projects alongside being a tennis player in 2022, meaning she probably struggles to find a day just for herself.
Last year's Australian Open winner co-founded a production company called Hana Kuma. Incredibly, the company received an Emmy nomination for its first work, a documentary named Mink about Patsy Takemoto Mink.
Osaka also founded the Play Academy, a charitable organization that gives grants to schools and other organizations worldwide so that boys and girls can play and participate in activities and after-school programs.
In addition, Osaka wrote a picture book titled he Way Champs Play, celebration of sport and play. She was blown away by the number of people who came to a meet-and-greet, which made her remember being kicked out of public courts as a child.
While all those initiatives are admirable, former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli believes they harm how Osaka plays during matches because there is so much on her mind.
"It's because of her mind. Because of everything she does off the court. She has too many things outside of tennis, it’s complicated for her.”
Bartoli's theory is undoubtedly plausible. However, although Osaka publicly committed to focusing on tennis more than other interests in 2023, the Japanese star did not indicate she would give up any of her other interests.
Osaka's blistering style is among the best in the world to watch at its best, and tennis would benefit from the four-time Grand Slam winner challenging for Grand Slams again in 2023.