Naomi Osaka’s Return to Tennis

Referring to Naomi Osaka’s return to professional tennis as a “comeback tour” might be missing the point. She’s not just rejoining the circuit like an old band; she’s coming back at the top tier of women’s tennis. At just 28, Osaka has steadily climbed back up since she resumed competing in 2024. But will she fully reclaim her spot at the peak?

It took some time, but Osaka has been regaining her previous form after taking breaks in 2021 and 2022, plus maternity leave in 2023. Although it’s likely her ranking won’t climb high enough to contend for the No. 1 title again without more travel, anyone paying attention knows she’s more than capable of winning the upcoming U.S. Open. Her dominance remains, echoing her earlier performances from 2018 to 2021.

Personally, I first really noticed Osaka during the 2018 U.S. Open final, where she faced off against Serena Williams and snagged her first Grand Slam title. What stands out to me, though, is not just her victory, but the chaos between Serena and the umpire that overshadowed her achievement. I felt bad for Osaka; she clinched an impressive win but it seemed like no one was celebrating her moment.

Now, as I write this, I feel a need to mention—although I’m technically not obliged—that Osaka’s journey has been complicated by mental health struggles and maternity leave. But here’s the thing: I don’t think her career will be diminished by this very human experience of navigating tennis, family, and self-care. In fact, her ability to reject the pressure of perfectionism in the sport makes her story compelling. When talking about Naomi Osaka, it’s fair to celebrate both her tennis journey and her openness about mental health challenges, and honestly, I admire her for it.

She’s certainly not the first athlete to speak up about mental health issues, but it’s quite rare for someone of her stature to do so. Being the top player globally and a prominent public figure, Osaka’s decision to pause her tennis career underscored her realization that she wasn’t enjoying the game as she once did. This wasn’t a defeatist statement but a courageous affirmation of her humanity, which is a departure from the traditional expectation of unwavering greatness in sports.

This theme is echoed in a show I recently watched called *Mr. Bear,* which explores loss, family dynamics, and cooking. The main character, Carmy, is a chef who truly loves cooking, yet struggles with whether he actually enjoys it anymore due to the pressures surrounding his profession. Isn’t that curious? We tend to think he *should* enjoy it, but the show reveals the complexity of passion mixed with pain.

The question of daily job satisfaction is universal, but athletes often don’t get the luxury of pondering it. They aren’t just playing for fun; they’re competing at the highest level, often facing pressures beyond what most of us can comprehend. Given their immense talent, it prompts the question: Why wouldn’t they enjoy their sport?

Life is, of course, more complicated than that. Joy isn’t constant, and mental health challenges affect everyone at some point. The dilemma of whether their talents are worth the trade-offs in life isn’t straightforward, and it can evolve over time. Osaka faced this courageous question when she was at her tennis peak.

Now, she’s back at the U.S. Open, the venue where her journey took off. As a fashion icon now, Osaka has stunned audiences with her cool approach to tennis. She performed brilliantly at Wimbledon, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka before bowing out in the quarter-finals. Hard courts suit her best, and she’s likely to draw considerable attention at Queen’s. It seems she’s rediscovering her passion for tennis, but who knows what might change tomorrow? And that’s perfectly okay.