‘Confused’ Naomi Osaka Rejects Marriage Proposal and Explains Challenges of Motherhood
Naomi Osaka lost two finals this year and produced her best in Grand Slam events when she reached the semifinals of the US Open.
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Naomi Osaka (Image via X/ESPN)
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Naomi Osaka is enjoying her offseason. On December 7, she did a Q&A session on Instagram, during which she rejected a marriage proposal and also answered a question about motherhood.
Osaka welcomed daughter Shai in 2023, taking maternity leave. She made her comeback last year, and since then, she has slowly started to climb up the rankings table.
But motherhood brought a whole lot of challenges in Osaka’s life, about which she has often discussed on social media posts and in interviews. So when a fan told her that she was a new mom and asked her advice about struggles with “new role/identity shift“, Osaka laid bare the challenges of motherhood.
I’m not going to lie to you I also struggled tremendously, your life changes overnight. I think for me I journaled a lot to keep track of how I felt, I was also lucky because I could play tennis and being on the court was a place of comfort for me. I would suggest you make time to do things that make you happy and also enjoy your new role because I promise you the time is going to go so quick and before you know it your baby is going to be talking back to you with sass.
Another user asked her to be his wife. Osaka, who split with rapper Cordae (with whom she had her daughter Shai), joked that she found the question confusing.
I’m confused by questions like this because you don’t know me Insane commitment from your end lol.
Naomi Osaka wrote
One user asked her about her most satisfying achievements of the past year. The four-time Grand Slam champion said no achievement stood out, but she was proud of not giving up on herself.
Naomi Osaka to play at the Garden Cup
Naomi Osaka will be in action on December 8 for the Garden Cup, an exhibition event set to be held at Madison Square Garden. Apart from Osaka, players to feature in the exhibition event are: Aryna Sabalenka, Nick Kyrgios, and Tommy Paul.
Osaka will lock horns with her fellow four-time Grand Slam singles champion. Kyrgios will face Paul. The night session will have a mixed doubles match.
Osaka has faced Sabalenka just once. Back in 2018, they met in the fourth round of the US Open, which the Japanese won in three sets, before reaching the final and defeating 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams to win her career’s first Major.
This year, Osaka reached two finals- at the ASB Classic and the Canadian Open. In the former event, an injury forced her to give the walkover to Clara Tauson, while in the WTA 1000 event, Osaka lost to home favorite Victoria Mboko. The last title that the 28-year-old lifted was the 2021 Australian Open by defeating Jennifer Brady.
Sabalenka, however, finished the season with four titles from five finals. After two heartbreaking Grand Slam defeats at the Australian Open and the French Open, the 27-year-old ended her Major title drought at the US Open by going past home favorite Amanda Anisimova.
Kyrgios featured in just six tournaments this year after making his return to the tour following 18 months. He finished his season after losing the first round match in doubles, which he played with Gael Monfils at the Citi Open. The last time the 2022 Wimbledon finalist won a tournament was at the 2022 Washington Open. Paul failed to reach a final this year. Last year, he played four finals, winning three titles.
Sabalenka and Kyrgios will also be in action on December 28. They will lock horns with each other in the Battle of the Sexes, which Osaka’s agency Evolve will host in Dubai.
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