“Have their cake and eat it too,” John McEnroe applauds mothers in tennis as he welcomes back Naomi Osaka on Tour

Naomi Osaka is scheduled to perform at the 2024 Australian Open next.

“Have their cake and eat it too,” John McEnroe applauds mothers in tennis as he welcomes back Naomi Osaka on Tour

John McEnroe and Naomi Osaka (Credits: Imago)

Naomi Osaka recently made her comeback to the tour with her participation at the 2024 Brisbane International.

However, the Japanese’s much-anticipated return was eventually cut short after she suffered an unfortunate second-round loss at the hands of Karolina Pliskova. 

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Most recently, former tennis professional and ESPN commentator John McEnroe lauded Osaka upon her post-pregnancy return to her Tour.

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The Japanese had earlier been sidelined from the sport after she announced her first pregnancy with longtime boyfriend and rapper Cordae before the commencement of the 2023 Australian Open. 

After preparing herself for her much-awaited comeback, the four-time Grand Slam singles champion will be next seen in action at this season’s edition of Flushing Meadows.

While talking on an Australian Open Media Conference Call, John McEnroe expressed his enthusiasm for welcoming Naomi Osaka back to the professional circuit and, with it, paid laurels to the Japanese for coping with the strenuous demands while managing her motherhood. 

This sport, you win and you lose. She’s got to be able to accept that and be able to handle that and enjoy the process that it takes to even get out on a court and compete for a major. I hope she can. Obviously because there’s been so much talk with her in particular, it’s going to be inevitable that people are going to look even more carefully.
McEnroe said via ESPN.

Osaka is a former World No. 1 who holds four major singles titles to her name, namely two Australian Open crowns and two US Open titles.

My favorite player growing up on the women’s tour, I loved Chrissie obviously, we miss her, but Evonne Goolagong was my favorite. She had a kid and won a major. It’s good to see that there’s been some changes that have taken place that allowed these young ladies to hopefully have their cake and eat it, too.
He further added

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Naomi Osaka expresses her desire to enjoy the sport while she still can

Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka recently acknowledged the relatively short span of a professional tennis career and expressed her desire to enjoy it while it lasts during a post-match press conference at the Brisbane International.

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka (Via CNN)

The 26-year-old also highlighted the retirements of Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, asserting that she will savor every moment she can in the sport.

I also just think I've trained so hard after giving birth that I need to enjoy these moments, and I also think in a way watching Sharapova, Serena retiring, I know that the tennis lifespan isn't that long, so I should enjoy it while I can.
Osaka said during a post-match press conference.

Owing to Osaka’s 15-month hiatus from the sport, her WTA ranking witnessed a massive drop and currently stands at the 833rd spot.

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