“Don’t bother me anymore,” New mum Naomi Osaka has a silver lining to her heartbreaking loss at the Australian Open as she gushes over baby Shai’s first crawl

Naomi Osaka’s comeback did not go as her fans had hoped it would. The Japanese tennis player had been away from the sport for over a year due to her pregnancy, and she recently made her return to the court at the 2024 Brisbane International before heading to the Australian Open. 

Unfortunately, the 4-time Grand Slam winner got eliminated from both tournaments extremely early. Osaka’s performance in her first match of the Brisbane International gave hope to her fans as she defeated Tamara Korpatsch in two sets.

However, she lost to Karolina Pliskova in the very next round and thus moved on to the Australian Open. She faced tough competition from Caroline Garcia in the very first round, and unfortunately, the heat was too much for the 26-year-old. 

Garcia dominated Naomi Osaka and won the match 6-4, 7-6(2), in straight sets. The Japanese player penned down a heartfelt letter for her fans on her way back home and said that she was way too gutted with the results. 

However, she also mentioned that maybe she had set her standards too high. Because she was pregnant just six months ago, it is absurd to think that she would get amazing results right away. 

My entire being is so disappointed with my result, the standards I set for myself are so incredibly high. I try to remind myself that I was pregnant 6 months ago and I can't expect amazing results from the jump- that doesn't really do much to quell my thoughts though.

She wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 

Naomi Osaka is excited to see Shai’s first crawl 

Naomi Osaka gave birth to her first baby girl, Shai, in July 2023. The Japanese said in her letter that she has become a changed human being ever since her birth, and losses do not bother her as much as they used to in the past anymore. 

She wrote that she doesn’t have time for it and needs to continue to walk forward. With that, Osaka also mentioned that she is glad that now she will reach home on time to witness Shai’s first crawl. 

It's a new bittersweet feeling, so sad to leave Melbourne early but I'm so happy to go see Shai soon. She's been scooting back and forth lately so I'm relieved l'Il be back home in time to see her first crawl.

She wrote. 

Although Naomi Osaka’s immediate plan for the future is not known yet, it can be assumed that she will be back at the Indian Wells and the Miami Open. By that time, she will also have ample time to work on her flaws. 

In case you missed it:

• “Still brings the fans,” Nick Kyrgios gets real on Richard Gasquet’s presence on court, hopes it’s definitely not his last
• Feelings of death and loss grapple tennis by the throat as former World No. 1 battles terminal illness

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