WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam titleholder, has stated that she will not continue in the tennis world if her performances do not meet her high standards. The 27-year-old Japanese athlete is set to compete for the first time since injuring her back at the China Open in October, as she prepares for the ASB tennis classic in Auckland on Monday.
During a news conference ahead of the tournament on Sunday, Osaka expressed feeling “humbled” by her performance in 2024 after she returned to competitive play following a nearly 15-month hiatus due to the birth of her first child. She finished the previous season ranked at 58.
Osaka conveyed to the media, “I’m not the kind of player who would stick around if my ranking doesn’t improve. I have great respect for my fellow competitors, but at this stage in my life, if I’m not ranking higher than a certain level, I don’t see myself continuing to compete.” She emphasized that she would prefer to spend quality time with her daughter rather than pursue tennis under those circumstances.
In her most recent season, she recorded a win-loss record of 22-17, making it to the quarterfinals in both Doha and ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands. Reflecting on her experiences, Osaka remarked, “The year 2024 has been humbling, but I feel like I have grown significantly. I’ve put in more effort than ever before, which made it painful not to achieve the outcomes I aimed for. Yet, I feel I’m evolving, learning, and am genuinely looking forward to the upcoming year in 2025.”
She recalled competing in memorable matches, such as her encounter with Iga Swiatek at the French Open, which she lost in a close contest (7-6, 1-6, 7-5). “I’m glad I could create memorable moments for fans,” she said. Despite her last competition in Beijing ending in injury, she remains optimistic about her future performances, particularly noting her eagerness to compete on hard courts again.
Osaka has won the Australian Open in both 2019 and 2021, as well as the US Open in 2018 and 2020. Her passion for tennis remains strong, despite recent challenges with injury. “Tennis has been a part of my life since I was three, largely due to my parents’ influence. I never envisioned myself pursuing anything else. However, when I explored different opportunities, it became clear that I preferred to be on the court,” she acknowledged. “It was a moment of realization that reinforced my genuine love for the sport rather than feeling obligated to play.”
In her opening match at the ASB Classic, Osaka will face off against Israel’s Lina Glushko.
