Naomi Osaka has been away from the WTA tour for over a year now. She is currently preparing for her return to the sport in 2024. Osaka started practicing a few weeks after giving birth in July to a baby girl. She and her boyfriend, Cordae, had announced the pregnancy and there have been reports of the pair breaking up, as Osaka also shared a post on the challenges of parenthood.
The former world No.1 has been with Cordae since 2019. They have not been married yet but have been spending a lot of time together. Osaka’s Instagram post was about doubting herself on being a good mother to Shai. It raised a lot of questions on her future with Cordae as fans began to worry that it might hinder her comeback journey, as fans are hoping that it is just a phase.
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The couple has not so far commented on their relationship status. Cordae has also yet to share any family updates on his social media handle so far. Fans are eagerly waiting for an update on the current events happening in Osaka’s life. The 26-year-old initially had doubts about being a mother as it brings challenges in a player’s career.
Naomi Osaka feared career setback after pregnancy
The process of entering motherhood is challenging for any athlete. Since a lot of changes take place in the body, it is difficult to predict its aftereffects on the mother. Osaka had the same fear in her during her pregnancy as she thought it would potentially mean the end of her career. She had won four grand slams by the age of 25 and saw other players becoming a mother at a much later stage of their careers.
The two-time US Open champion also compared how different it was for the male players. The players on the ATP tour did not have to face such type of treatment as it was for the WTA players. Osaka intends to break these stereotypes once she enters the tour again with a fresh perspective on life.
Btw to the people that are suddenly concerned about my career- There are plenty of male athletes with kids that are significantly less accomplished, you might wanna worry about them instead. Thanks for the concern, might wanna redirect it to someone that needs it though 😬.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 12, 2023
The two-time Australian Open champion is set to return at the 2024 United Cup. Osaka has been included in the list of players and will also play at the Australian Open. Her powerful serve and groundstrokes are waiting to pose a threat to the top players. Osaka will again make sure to topple the tour and continue her dominance in the sport.