Naomi Osaka is making her return to the U.S. Open after a two-year absence, aiming to draw inspiration from her childhood memories in New York rather than dwelling on her previous victories at the tournament. The 26-year-old tennis player, born in Japan and raised in New York since the age of 3, reminisces about coming to the U.S. Open as a young fan to watch her favorite players like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Rafael Nadal, and Maria Sharapova.
Despite her past successes, including winning the U.S. Open twice and other Grand Slam titles, Osaka has faced challenges such as a break from the sport for mental health reasons and motherhood, which have resulted in a drop in her ranking to 85th. Her recent struggles with form and confidence were highlighted after disappointing results and difficulties adjusting to different playing surfaces.
Osaka candidly shared her feelings of disconnection from her game on social media, comparing her state to feeling “postpartum” and expressing frustration at not performing at her best. She also mentioned the impact of facing tough opponents throughout the season, leading to a dent in her self-belief despite not playing poorly.
The tennis star found solace in sharing her inner thoughts online, describing it as a way to declutter her mind and find mental freedom. After a reflective period and intense practice sessions, Osaka expressed optimism about her current state and her readiness to compete at a high level in the upcoming matches at Flushing Meadows.
Osaka’s journey at the U.S. Open this year will continue with a match against No. 10 seed Jelena Ostapenko, as she strives to rediscover her top form and regain her confidence on the court.
