Naomi Osaka considering how to balance tennis with motherhood ahead of clay court season
Former world No 1 and 4-time grand slam champion returned to the tour in 2024 after a 15-month break following the birth of her daughter
Former world No 1 Naomi Osaka said she is considering how best to balance her tennis schedule with motherhood after a 7-5 6-4 loss to Australia’s Talia Gibson in her opening match on Saturday at the Miami Open.
Osaka returned to the tour in 2024 after a 15-month break following the birth of her daughter and reached the US Open semi-finals last year.
She withdrew ahead of her scheduled third-round match at the Australian Open in January due to an abdominal injury.
The four-time grand slam champion lost to world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Indian Wells round of 16 this month before another early exit in Miami.
Asked about her plans for the clay season, Osaka said she is weighing the demands of the tour with the time she wants to spend at home.
“I feel like this also is a dilemma for me,” Osaka said.