Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has made it clear that she will not continue her tennis career if her results fail to meet her high expectations.
The 27-year-old Japanese star is preparing for her first match since suffering a back injury in the 2023 China Open, as she gears up for the ASB Tennis Classic in Auckland. Osaka, who returned to professional tennis in 2024 after a 15-month hiatus due to the birth of her daughter, finished the year ranked 58th.
During a pre-tournament press conference, Osaka spoke candidly about her 2024 season, which she described as both humbling and a period of personal growth.
Despite a 22-17 win-loss record, Osaka expressed optimism for 2025, saying, “I feel like I’m growing and learning.” Reflecting on the past year, she mentioned key matches, including her close loss to Iga Świątek at the French Open, as highlights.
Osaka stressed her commitment to balancing tennis and family life.
“If I’m not above a certain ranking, I don’t see myself playing for a while,” she said, making it clear that she would prioritize spending time with her daughter if she’s not achieving the level of success she expects.
Osaka, who has won the Australian Open twice and the US Open twice, acknowledged her enduring love for tennis, despite setbacks. “I’ve been playing tennis since I was three, and a huge part of that I owe to my parents. I never really saw my life doing anything else,” she explained.
In her first match of the ASB Classic, Osaka will face Israel’s Lina Glushko. As she moves forward into the 2025 season, Osaka’s expectations are high as she aims to reclaim her place at the top of women’s tennis.
