Key Takeaways
- Naomi Osaka says she would consider retiring if her three-year-old daughter, Shai, asked her to travel less, calling motherhood her biggest priority.
- The four-time Grand Slam champion believes she is “not far” from her best after returning to the world’s top 20 and making deep runs at Wimbledon, the French Open, and the US Open.
- Osaka remains focused on winning titles as she prepares to face Jasmine Paolini at the Pan Pacific Open, but she no longer measures success solely by her results on the court.
Naomi Osaka believes she's getting closer to the form that made her a four-time Grand Slam champion, but there's one person who could convince her to walk away from tennis: her three-year-old daughter, Shai.
Speaking ahead of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Osaka admitted that retirement has crossed her mind despite climbing back into the world's top 20. The former world No. 1 explained that motherhood has changed how she approaches her career, particularly when it comes to spending extended periods away from home.
"It's tough, sometimes I look towards my future, and I often wonder how long I'm going to play," Osaka said, according to BBC Sport. "Because if my daughter did say she didn't want me to travel as much, I'm not the type of person to ignore that."
The 29-year-old made it clear that her priorities have shifted since welcoming Shai in 2023. Although Osaka remains committed to competing at the highest level, she acknowledged that raising a child means tennis can no longer fill every waking moment.
"My daughter is my biggest priority," she said. "I try my best to put as much energy as I can into tennis."
"I wouldn't say I'm part-timing it, but my entire day doesn't consist of that," she continued, adding that she's proud of her progress despite being unable to dedicate herself exclusively to the sport.
And that progress has been significant. Osaka entered the Tokyo tournament ranked No. 19 in the world after reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, where she defeated top seed Aryna Sabalenka. She also advanced to the fourth round of the French Open and US Open, with her New York run ending against eventual champion Elena Rybakina.
Those results have given Osaka reason to believe another major title isn't necessarily out of reach.
"I genuinely don't feel like I'm that far off," she said, acknowledging that she's still rediscovering some of the instincts that helped her win two Australian Open titles and two US Open championships between 2018 and 2021.
The retirement discussion comes less than two weeks after Osaka inadvertently alarmed fans with an emotional Instagram post celebrating her 29th birthday. Her lengthy reflections on life, accomplishments, and personal growth prompted some followers to believe she was preparing to announce her departure from professional tennis.
That wasn't the case, but her latest comments offer a clearer picture of how she's thinking about her future.
Osaka previously stepped away from tennis in 2021 to prioritize her mental health and later took an extended break surrounding her pregnancy. Since returning, she's kept building a career beyond competition, including headline-making fashion statements inspired by Allen Iverson and elaborate Grand Slam entrances.
Osaka opened the Tokyo tournament with a win over Jasmine Paolini on Tuesday, Oct. 27, prevailing 6-3, 7-6(4) as the seventh seed. She's still chasing titles, but she's no longer measuring success exclusively by what happens on the court.
"I think I built a pretty solid base," she said, "and I'm just excited to see if I can continue learning and going further in tournaments."
