WATCH: Unseen footage of Naomi Osaka practicing during pregnancy with her baby bump goes viral

Osaka releases a video of a practice session from her pregnancy days.

WATCH: Unseen footage of Naomi Osaka practicing during pregnancy with her baby bump goes viral

Naomi Osaka's pregnant practice (Image via Naomi Osaka TikTok)

4-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has been out of tennis action since before the start of the Australian Open. Former world number one’s 2023 season has been curtailed due to her expecting with rapper Cordae. Osaka gave birth to a baby girl last month.

Confirming she will be giving birth soon, Osaka said in January,“I know that I have so much to look forward to in the future, one thing I’m looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, “that’s my mom”. 2023 will be a year that’ll be full of lessons for me and I hope I’ll see you guys in the start of the next one cause I’ll be at Australian Open 2024. Love you all infinitely.”

YouTube video

Meanwhile, Osaka shared a surprise video for fans awaiting her return. In an unseen footage shared by her on TikTok, Osaka can be seen practicing during pregnancy with her baby bump. Looking as sharp as ever, Osaka gave it a hard swing on the court, practicing serves and groundstrokes. If the video is anything to go by, fans can expect the best of Osaka on her return.

FS Video

Naomi Osaka has not played a match since the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo last September. She withdrew in the second round citing abdominal pain, having played only one game in her first-round match against Daria Saville, who retired.

Keep Exploring: Iga Swiatek could have changed the parts of her Break Point episode claims Aryna Sabalenka surprised by the Pole’s latest comment

Naomi Osaka opens up on her mental health struggles

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka (Getty Images)

Osaka has suffered with depression since the 2018 US Open. In May 2021, she refused to take part in required press conferences during the French Open and was subsequently fined $15,000 and threatened with expulsion from the tournament. On May 31, Osaka withdrew from the event to deal with her mental health and well-being. At the 2022 Indian Wells Open, a heckler unsettled Osaka to the point of tears after which she had to seek therapy.

Talking about her struggles with depression, Osaka said,“The first time I felt really depressed was after I won Indian Wells. It happened again when I won 2020 USO, & Beijing. I was in China, crying on court. After I won AO the 2nd time, I felt I had to do something bc I don’t want to keep living this way.” Talking about her decision to skip the press conference, Osaka said that she felt that people were trying to exploit her.

Osaka also talked about her apprehensions about returning to tennis after having a kid. The 4-time Grand Slam winner said,“I had the assumption if you have a kid it’s the end of your career..I never thought if I had a kid I’d go back to tour.. but I’ve played tennis since I was 3. I want to appreciate the time I can still play.”

Osaka will look forward to winning her third Australian Open on her return to tennis. She has previously won the 2019 and 2021 editions of the competition.

In case you missed it :