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At the Brisbane International, the Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka will return to the court after almost a year and a half. The 4-time Slam champion will be in the top half of the main draw and will challenge Tamara Korpatsch in the first round, with the hope of giving herself a match with Karolina Pliskova.
They have been intense months for the former WTA No.1, who returns to playing tennis after motherhood and the birth of little Shai. Before that, there had been complicated months, starting with the revelations about mental health at the Roland Garros.
From her suffering due to severe depression, to the joy of motherhood that allowed her to give birth to little Shai. Naomi, despite her young age, has overcome many challenges and is ready to get back into the world of tennis a year and a half after the last time.
The Japanese has always avoided the limelight and preferred to construct her own reality. Then came the success, the pressure increased and Osaka did not react well to the new scenarios that invaded her private life. The 26-year-old is trying to bring her true personality both on and off the court.
And the words she shared during the media day in Brisbane made it clear, once again, how she is a Master in communicating with others. The right words, at the right time and in the right context. That’s why I feel like saying that Naomi is a blessing for tennis and her come back will bring something good to the sport in general.
She is a frank and direct person, but always with the right courtesy and the right measure of words.
Naomi is a Master in communication: tennis missed her
“I thought about quitting. Immediately after Tokyo I thought about it for about a month, because I felt like I no longer felt joy in tennis.
Then I said to myself: I’ve been playing tennis since I was three years old and there are so many things I want still accomplish. I want Shai to see a person who has big goals and dreams. I’m learning to appreciate the sport.
I won’t say I never loved tennis. I loved it. At some point, instead of being happy for a victory I just felt relieved. It helped me a lot to watch other tennis players. I remember seeing some of Carlos Alcaraz training at Wimbledon.
I guess in a way you go back to being a child and trying to draw inspiration from others.” The Japanese, with her gentle smile, exudes an aura of tranquility even when she talks about profound and important topics, as well as when she deals with lighter topics: “I’m nervous but happy with all the work I’ve done to be here.
I think becoming a mother has changed my mentality. Now I have a much more open mind and I also feel stronger. Shai helped me a lot. I’m excited to return. I didn’t wear headphones around the club! It’s really nice to see everyone again. I’m nervous, I haven’t played a match in a while but I’m competitive and I want to win.”
