Working mother Noami Osaka worried she may miss a magical moment in her baby’s life

Naomi Osaka is getting used to life away from her baby girl as she prepares to make her Grand Slam return at the Australian Open, but she admits the time away is tough to deal with.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka is playing her first Grand Slam tournament since the US Open in 2022 after giving birth to daughter Shai last summer.

The winner at Melbourne Park in 2019 and 2021, the 26-year-old is feeling her way back into life on tour having made her comeback at the Brisbane International last week.

Osaka appears to be enjoying life back on the tennis tour, but she is missing baby Shai.

“It’s definitely been really hard. She’s learning things while I’m gone,” said Osaka.

“I’m hoping she doesn’t learn how to crawl before I come back. She’s doing her little plank thing and scooting forward and back. I think it
might be a little inevitable.

“I’m definitely sad, but I feel like it’s a selfish sad because I want her to be here. But I think for her health and like her whole environment is at home – you know what I mean? I don’t want to put her out of that while she’s still so young. I FaceTime her often.”

Despite the natural challenges of being away from her child, Osaka is relishing the challenge of getting back on the tennis court and compete at the highest level once again.

Osaka has been a notably happier figure than the player who struggled with her mental health during 2022 and contemplated stepping away from the sport completely.

Time and a new perspective as a mother has given Osaka, who is also a two-time winner of the US Open, a different outlook on her career.

“I’ve taken a lot of breaks throughout the years,” she said. “I think this one was the one that finally clicked in my head. I think I realised, being an athlete, that time is really precious. (Before) I was young and I felt like I could kind of roll back into it whenever I needed to.

“I guess after having Shai, going through the struggle of trying to get myself back to where I want to be, it was incredibly tough.

“I have a much more positive mindset and a much more grateful mindset. I think overall I’m just happy to be here because I remember last year I was watching people playing Australian Open, and I couldn’t participate myself.”

“I guess like after having Shai, kind of going through the struggle of trying to get myself back to where I want to be, it was incredibly tough.

“I have, like, a much more positive mindset and a much more grateful mindset.

“I think overall I’m just happy to be here because I remember last year I was watching people playing Australian Open, and I couldn’t participate myself.”

Osaka also suggested her body will need to be managed differently as she looks to return to the top of the game.

“I mean, definitely my body’s a lot different from I guess before Shai. I think I also had to adjust my play style a lot,” she added.

“I think while I’ve been in Australia, a lot of people have been telling me that they’re really happy that I’m back.

“It feels really nice because I can truly feel they’re saying that from the heart. I think Australia’s a place that I have so many great memories. It’s also the place that has the most, like, I see the most Japan flags. 

“It’s really cool to be back here and kind of feel appreciated.”