After a thrilling first-round victory in Miami against Yuliia Starodubtseva, the former World No. 1, Naomi Osaka, has her sights set on the top echelons of women’s tennis once more. The hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory marks the beginning of her journey back to the pinnacle of the sport, a journey she understands will be a process.
In the early stages of 2025, Osaka has proven her mettle, reaching her first finals post-maternity leave. The Japanese star took a hiatus for motherhood in the 2023 season and made a thunderous comeback, although she fell short to Clara Tauson in the Auckland finals.
However, her journey has not been without hurdles. An abdominal injury forced her to withdraw from both the Auckland final and the fourth round of the Australian Open. Despite these setbacks, her resilience remains unwavering. “Making every point count eventually adds up,” Osaka reflected following her triumphant return in Miami.
Miami carries a special significance for Osaka. Having grown up visiting Key Biscayne and witnessing professional players in action served as a significant inspiration for her. Now, being part of the tournament feels surreal, especially seeing the young fans who remind her of her own childhood aspirations.
Osaka’s recent performances have shown a marked improvement from her 2024 season. She credits her enhanced movement and ability to return more balls as key to her progress. Admitting to relying on her ‘wheels’ for the first time in a while, she expressed satisfaction with her fitness level, a journey she acknowledges has been long and challenging post-pregnancy.
The tennis star also acknowledges her struggle with nerves, confessing that some of her shots did not meet her expectations due to nervousness. She is hopeful that she will overcome this with more matches under her belt.
In July 2023, Osaka and rapper Conrae welcomed their daughter, Shai. Her return to professional tennis in 2024 in Brisbane marked the beginning of her comeback journey. Despite initial setbacks due to injury, Osaka’s desire to return to the top tier of women’s tennis remains undiminished.
Osaka candidly spoke about her struggles post-pregnancy, stating, “For me in particular, it was really hard to come back after pregnancy. I’ve learned a lot of abdomen terms that I’ve never heard of before, so I feel very knowledgeable now.” She expressed her happiness at being back and healthy, and lauded the inspiring performances of other mothers in the sport.
Osaka’s comeback journey continues as she prepares to face Liudmila Samsonova in her second-round match in Miami. Her aspiration to ‘play with the big dogs’ underscores her undying spirit and her pursuit to ascend the heights of women’s tennis once more.