“I think she’s coming back,” Naomi Osaka visualizes Serena Williams making a U-turn on her retirement

Naomi Osaka continues to maintain a distance from the tennis courts midway through the 2021 season. The 4-time Grand Slam champion had come out with her mental health problems during the 2021 French Open. The manner in which she came out led to massive media coverage and she decided its best for her to stay far from the court, a trend she maintained in the 2022 season as well.

Osaka is however hoping to have a full season in the 2023 season as the former World No. 1 is currently ranked 41st in the WTA singles rankings. While she looks to make a good comeback, she expressed her feelings about not having 23-time major winner Serena Williams on the Tour next season.

Williams retired from the sport after the 2022 US Open drawing a curtain on her career of 27 years. Osaka was one of the many tennis fans to be sad seeing Williams retire from the sport as she had become a constant for decades. The Japanese however recently opened up on her belief of the American returning and being thankful that she retired from the court.

“To me, it feels definitely surreal and I’m almost like I think she’s coming back. But you know how you’re just like this can’t be happening kind of thing. So, it was one of those moments for me but I’m really grateful that she told everyone, so we at least got the chance to watch her (at the US Open),” said Osaka speaking on TODAY with Hoda and Jenna.

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Naomi Osaka gives an update on her mental health

With nearly 18 months of prioritizing her mental health over her profession, Osaka is slowly progressing. The former World No. 1 has often identified herself as an introvert. She mostly walks in on the court having her headphones on in order to cancel out the ‘noise’ from the stadium.

“I think I’m slowly getting comfortable with using my voice, but for me it was probably during quarantine like when Covid first came out. I didn’t have anything to do, so I sat by myself and I was just thinking about my life and what I want to accomplish and I think all in all I just wanted to feel like I didn’t shy away from issues that I felt heavy in my heart,” added Osaka.

Osaka has not signed up for exhibition matches and is preparing all on her own. She is expected to start the season in Australia on the Tour as Japan failed to qualify for the 2023 United Cup. With Osaka being a 2-time Australian Open winner, she will be eyeing her third title Down Under and her fifth career major.

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