Naomi Osaka Struggles with Form Post-Maternity

Naomi Osaka, the former world number one has revealed that she feels disconnected from her body as she struggles to regain her form following her return to tennis after a maternity break. Osaka, who gave birth to her first child, daughter Shai, in July 2023 resumed her career on the WTA Tour in January. Despite her return, the four-time Grand Slam champion has found it difficult to reach her previous level of performance, failing to advance beyond the quarter-finals in any tournament since then.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Osaka, 26, expressed her frustration, stating, “My biggest issue currently isn’t losses, though; my biggest issue is that I don’t feel like I’m in my body.” She described experiencing an unfamiliar sensation of missing shots she normally wouldn’t and hitting the ball with less power than before. Osaka admitted that the mental strain is significant, saying, “Mentally it’s really draining.”

Osaka’s recent defeat by American Ashlyn Kreuger in the second round of qualifying for the Cincinnati Open highlighted her ongoing challenges. She compared her current state to post-partum feelings, noting that despite her extensive experience with tennis, she now struggles with what should be second nature. “I genuinely did not give myself grace for that fact until just now,” she reflected.

Although Naomi Osaka has not advanced past the third round of a Grand Slam this year, she demonstrated her competitive edge by pushing world number one Iga Swiatek to the limit in a French Open second-round match in May. Osaka is set to compete at the US Open later this month where she is a two-time champion and hopes to overcome these struggles to return to her best form.