Naomi Osaka admits she ‘feels strange’ on court after maternity break

Naomi Osaka says she still doesn’t feel like herself on court, eight months into her comeback season after maternity leave. The four-time Grand Slam champion is also puzzled by her lack of power and accuracy.

The 26-year-old was defeated by Ashlyn Krueger in the second round of qualifying for the Cincinnati Open, the latest setback in an uneven run of form heading into the year’s final Grand Slam tournament, the US Open, which begins on August 26. Osaka triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2018 and 2020.

“My biggest problem right now isn’t the loss, it’s that I don’t feel like I’m in my body,” Osaka wrote on Instagram. “It’s a weird feeling, missing balls that I shouldn’t miss, hitting balls softer than I remember. I try to tell myself, ‘It’s okay, you’re doing great. Just get through this and keep pushing,’ mentally it’s really wearing me down.

“Inside I hear myself screaming, ‘What the hell is going on here?!”

Osaka returned to action in January after a 15-month break to give birth to her daughter. She is now ranked 90th in the world, her best results coming in quarter-final runs in Doha and ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

“I’ve had a handful of matches this year where I felt like I was myself and I know this moment is probably just a small phase of all the new transitions (clay, grass, clay, hard), but the only feeling I can compare myself to right now is the feeling I have after giving birth,” Osaka said.

“I find that scary, because I’ve been playing tennis since I was three. The racket has to feel like an extension of my hand.”

Osaka said she didn’t understand why everything about her game felt “almost brand new” again. “This should be as easy as breathing for me, but it’s not. I really haven’t given myself the space for that fact until now.”

Despite her struggles, Osaka said she enjoyed working hard every day and “finally getting the chance to achieve what she wanted.”