Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka made her comeback to competitive tennis at the beginning of the 2024 season after taking a hiatus in 2023 to give birth to her first child, a daughter named Shai. However, her return to the court has been met with mixed reviews as she faced early exits in several tournaments.
Osaka, who won her opening match at the Brisbane International, suffered three consecutive defeats in subsequent events, including early exits at the Australian Open and Abu Dhabi Open. Questions arose regarding the timing of her return, with tennis legend Martina Navratilova expressing criticism.
Navratilova, renowned for her blunt assessments, commented on Osaka’s performance, stating, “Tennis-wise, it was maybe a B-plus performance. But overall a C, because she couldn’t get to the ball that she wants to hit because she is not in shape.”
The tennis icon expressed surprise at Osaka’s decision to return to the tour without being in optimal physical condition. Navratilova highlighted the importance of being in top shape to compete at the highest level, suggesting that Osaka may have started playing too soon after childbirth.
“I am surprised that she started playing, that she got on the tour that she played this tournament without clearly being in the tip-top shape she needs to be in order to put herself in the position to hit the big, big balls,” Navratilova remarked.
Despite the criticism, Osaka’s return to the sport after becoming a mother reflects her dedication and passion for tennis. As she continues her journey back to peak performance, she may face further challenges, but her resilience and determination could see her overcome them in due course.
As Osaka navigates her post-childbirth comeback, the scrutiny and opinions from tennis pundits like Navratilova underscore the unique challenges faced by professional athletes balancing personal milestones with their careers on the court.
Naomi Osaka in 2024
Ranked world no.286, Naomi played her last match on the 15th of February when she lost to world no.36 Karolina Pliskova 7-6(6) 7-6(5) in the quarter in Doha (draw).
Currently, during this year Osaka achieved a compiled 3-4 win-loss record.
Naomi Osaka |
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