Naomi Osaka, the former world number one, says she is not far from rediscovering the form that brought her four Grand Slam titles, despite admitting she has considered retirement and sometimes wonders how long she will continue playing.
The 29-year-old Japanese is set to return to the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo next week as the seventh seed, with her latest appearance coming as she continues to rebuild her career after taking a 15-month break following the birth of her daughter.
“It’s tough, sometimes I look towards my future and wonder how long I’m going to play,” Osaka told reporters on Sunday.
“Because if my daughter did say she didn’t want me to travel as much, I’m not the type of person to ignore that.”
Osaka, currently ranked 19th in the world, has shown encouraging signs of returning to her best this season, recording notable results at several major tournaments.
She reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon after defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka and advanced to the last 16 at both the French Open and the US Open.
The four-time Grand Slam champion also reached the semi-finals in Washington and the quarter-finals in Toronto, results that have strengthened her belief that she can challenge for major titles again.
“I genuinely don’t feel like I’m that far off,” Osaka said of her chances of contending for titles again.
“I think I built a pretty solid base and I’m excited to see if I can continue learning and going further in tournaments.”
Osaka returned to professional tennis in 2024 after stepping away from the sport following the birth of her daughter. Her latest comments highlight the personal considerations that could shape the next phase of her career, particularly her desire to balance professional commitments with motherhood.
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