Naomi Osaka surprises the world by leaving the door open for retirement

Naomi Osaka is in a curious moment of her professional career, and every time she reflects on what tennis means to her, she makes juicy headlines. None as juicy as the one she made during the media day of the WTA 250 Osaka 2026, where she will seek a title, something she has not achieved in five years.

Since Naomi Osaka won the 2021 Australian Open before her pregnancy, the Japanese player has not tasted the sweetness of lifting a trophy as champion. It's been too long for a four-time Grand Slam champion and a natural winner trying to reclaim her past glory. Her current level is more than notable, having established herself in the top-20 and regularly reaching the final rounds, but she still lacks that extra needed to take a further step.

Many wonder how long Osaka will have the necessary enthusiasm to excel in professional tennis and if her hopes of winning major titles again will fade with this situation in no-man's-land. She does not need anything financially, has a media image that goes far beyond tennis, and this sport is neither her main passion nor, of course, her priority. 

Osaka acknowledges that her daughter could soon put an end to her tennis career

She has repeatedly communicated in various interviews that she considers her daughter, Shai, 3 years old, to be the most important thing in her life, placing tennis in a clear second place. "Sometimes I think about my future and I ask myself how much longer I will keep playing. I wouldn't say I'm a part-time tennis player, but my life does not completely revolve around this sport. I am proud to be in my current position without dedicating all my time to tennis," she stated.

These are interesting words with much room for interpretation, with Naomi attributing herself extra merit for remaining active and among the best in the world despite being a mother. In fact, the need for her daughter to have a routine and not travel with her is what generates the greatest uncertainty for the Japanese when looking to the future. "If my daughter asked me to, I would stop playing tennis", she concluded.

Regarding her tennis situation, Naomi Osaka was decisive. "I don’t think I’m that far from the best and from winning a title. There are still certain automatons that I might have forgotten when it comes to competing, and I am trying to rediscover them. I have managed to build a solid foundation in my tennis from which to continue growing," commented the Japanese player before seeking glory in her own home, being set to debut against Jasmine Paolini in the WTA 250 Osaka 2026.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Naomi Osaka sorprende al mundo dejando abierta la puerta de la retirada