Naomi Osaka made a comeback this week as she plots a return to court a month after giving birth to her baby girl.
Two-time US Open champion Osaka skipped a performance at Flushing Meadows this year after welcoming her daughter Shai with her rapper boyfriend Cordae in July.
However, the 25-year-old is already back in training mode as she shared a series of photos and videos from her training with her 2.7 million Instagram followers on Monday, the first day of the Grand Slam.
The new mom posted a photo of herself standing on a running track beaming from ear to ear as she held up a peace sign to the camera.
She then got to work in a video of her pulling a fitness sled with her trainer on it, who asked her, “Why are you going so slow?”
Tennis star Naomi Osaka made a comeback this week as she plots a return to the tennis court
The 25-year-old shared a series of photos and videos of her postpartum workout
The four-time Grand Slam winner worked hard for a month after welcoming her baby daughter
The training session continued with a video of the four-time Grand Slam winner running down the street in a friendly race with her training partner.
The post concluded with a mirror selfie of Osaka, dressed in all-black workout clothes, leaning against a treadmill.
Osaka announced she was pregnant in January and said she was expecting a girl in June.
At the start of the year, Osaka said she would be back for the Australian Open in 2024 while announcing she was pregnant.
Since 2019, she has been in a relationship with Grammy-nominated American rapper Cordae.
Osaka is a four-time major winner, winning twice in Australia and twice at the US Open in New York.
Announcing her pregnancy, she said in a social media post with a photo of a baby scan: “Can’t wait to get back on track, but here’s a little life update for 2023.
“The past few years have been interesting to say the least, but I think the most challenging times in life are perhaps the most fun.
She has been in a relationship with rapper Cordae since 2019. The couple pictured in 2020
She had announced that she was expecting a girl with the rap star in June
“These few months away from the sport have really given me a new love and appreciation for the sport to which I have dedicated my life. I realize life is so short and I don’t take any moment for granted, every day is a new blessing and adventure.
“I know I have so much to look forward to in the future. One thing I look forward to is my kid watching one of my games and saying to someone, “That’s my mom.”
In July, Osaka shared five photos, with the first photo showing her daughter in a face-hidden tennis outfit.
Her child wore a white all-in-one with embroidered green and pink tennis rackets and tennis balls.
She also shared a picture of her baby bump, of herself in the hospital bed, and a picture of her celebrations at home – complete with pink balloons and rose petals.
Osaka has previously spoken openly about her struggles with the expectations around her in tennis.
After a shock loss at the 2021 US Open to Leylah Fernandez, she tearfully said, “I honestly don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match.
“I think I’m going to take a break from playing for a while. I feel like when I win I don’t feel happy, I feel relief. And when I lose, I feel very sad. And I don’t think that’s normal.’
It came months after she pulled out of the French Open that year, revealing her earlier struggles with depression after her refusal to give post-match interviews was criticized.
Osaka uploaded her first social media post since giving birth to a baby girl, Shai, last month
Osaka shared five postpartum photos in July, including one of her in the hospital
“I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer. More importantly, I would never downplay mental health or use the term lightly,” she said.
“Anyone who knows me knows I’m an introvert, and anyone who’s seen me at the tournaments will notice that I wear headphones a lot, as it eases my social anxiety.
While the tennis press has always been nice to me (and I especially want to apologize to any cool journalists I may have offended), I’m not a natural public speaker and I get huge waves of anxiety before I get involved with the media. speak the world.
“I get really nervous and find it stressful always trying to be involved and give you the best answers I can.”