Naomi Osaka is competing at a WTA 125 event in Saint-Malo, where she has already reached the semifinals. The former World No. 1 is away from her daughter, Shai, and shared a poignant message while competing in France.
Naomi Osaka Admits to Missing Her Daughter While in France
Osaka missed the entirety of her 2023 season due to pregnancy and gave birth to her daughter that year. The Japanese returned to action in 2024 and is currently 55th in the WTA rankings.
After enduring an opening-round exit at the Madrid, Osaka refused to stay discouraged and vowed to bounce back. She has had a great run in France, defeating Petra Marčinko, Diane Perry, and Elsa Jacquemot to reach the semifinals, where she will face Leolia Jeanjean.
Osaka recently posted a short message on social media, in which, she admitted to missing her daughter, Shai.
“I miss my daughterrrrrrr,” she wrote on Threads.
The former World No. 1 has struggled to make a strong impact since returning from her 15-month maternity break. She resumed her professional career in January 2024, with her best performances that year being quarterfinal appearances at the Qatar Open and the Libema Open.
MORE: Naomi Osaka Receives Support From Colleagues After Emotional Message As She Moves On From Madrid Loss
Naomi Osaka Opened Up on Catching Up on the Sport After Pregnancy Hiatus
In an interview with the Japan Times, Osaka said returning after childbirth is tough because the sport moves on, making her feel behind and catching up.
“It’s definitely been a challenge returning to elite sport after giving birth. The sport continues with or without you, and you’re playing a bit of catch-up when returning from a hiatus,” she said.
The Japanese feels that she is gaining her pre-training form and is happy that her dedication and training are finally showing results.
“Recently, I’ve been feeling like I’m returning to pre-pregnancy performance level and it’s a great feeling knowing that all the hard work I’ve been putting in is paying off,” she added.
Osaka seldom shares updates of her life as a mother on social media. Notably, while she was sidelined from the tour last year due to abdominal and back injuries, forcing her to miss the WTA 250 event in Osaka and the WTA 500 tournament in Tokyo, she remained in her home country with her daughter.
