Former world No. 1 and new mom Naomi Osaka was back at the US Open on Wednesday to speak on a topic that's close to her heart, and in doing so, revealed that the competitive fire in her soul is still burning bright.
Osaka, who won the US Open in 2018 and 2020, was on site at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to take part in a forum on mental health in sports alongside former Olympian Michael Phelps, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, and USTA President and Chairman of the Board Brian Hainline entitled "Mental Health and Sport: Why It Matters." In a panel discussion and subsequent media Q&A session, Osaka and Phelps shared their personal mental health journeys, addressing topics like changing social norms; mental toughness vs. mental wellness; and social media and its impact on mental well-being.
"It feels like seeing an old friend again," Osaka later told ESPN's Chris McKendry on returning to the tournament grounds. "I went through the little players' tunnel, but obviously, I'm not playing. It made me itch to want to play again, but I guess I'll have to wait until next year."
Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka gave birth to her daughter, Shai, two months ago after announcing her pregnancy in January. Shai means "God's gift," according to Osaka, and "that's how I wanted her to feel, like she's God's gift to me and her dad [Osaka's longtime boyfriend, rapper Cordae]."
Motherhood is treating her well, she said.
"It's definitely a weird feeling knowing that someone relies on me," she added. "I still call my mom all the time, and knowing that this little person is going to grow up and do the same ... I'm excited for it."
But the former world No. 1 is also excited to return to tennis next season. Osaka told McKendry that she's committed to play a heavy tournament schedule in 2024—"It's definitely way more tournaments than I used to play, and I think some people will be happy with that," she said—and confirmed she intends to play the Australian Open in January.
"I realized that I don't know how the beginning of the year is going to go for me," she said. "I don't know the level of play, and I think I have to ease into it. At the very least, I'm going to set myself up for a very good end of the year."
Has she missed tennis in her time away?
"Definitely," she told McKendry, while noting it's been inspiring to see other moms on tour come back to tennis with success.
"I've been watching matches, and I'm like, 'I kind of wish I was playing too,' but I'm in this position now and I'm very grateful. I really love my daughter a lot, but I think it really fueled a fire in me."
