Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam title winner, has a bittersweet relationship with the French Open, but this year things are looking up. The Japanese star recently revealed that her 10-month-old daughter took her first steps in Paris, where the tournament is being held, and Osaka was lucky enough to witness this milestone moment. After spending six weeks in Europe for tennis, she was finally reunited with her daughter, Shai, who had been back home in Florida. Osaka expressed her joy at being able to see her daughter’s growth and development firsthand, saying it felt surreal to witness her taking her first steps.
Despite her joy at seeing her daughter’s progress, Osaka has not always had positive experiences at the French Open in the past. In 2021, she faced backlash for opting out of media commitments and eventually withdrew from the tournament to prioritize her mental health. The following year, she made an early exit in the first round before taking a break from the sport to start a family. Now, as she returns to competitive tennis as a mother, Osaka is learning valuable lessons through motherhood and hopes to apply them to her game on the court.
Osaka’s dominance on hard courts, where she has won all four of her Grand Slam titles, has not always translated well to the slower clay courts of Europe. Her record at the French Open has been less than stellar, with her best result being a third-round finish. However, she has shown improvement on clay in recent tournaments, defeating top-ranked players in Rome before facing a tough opponent in Zheng Qinwen. Despite her challenges on clay, Osaka is steadily climbing up the rankings and showing a growing appreciation for the nuances of playing on this surface, where power alone is not always enough to win matches.
As Osaka prepares to face off against Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti at the French Open, she knows that a potential match-up against defending champion Iga Swiatek awaits her next. Osaka acknowledges the difficulties of playing on clay but is determined to continue learning and evolving her game to succeed on this challenging surface. She has been studying other players and their strategies on clay, noting that the court requires a different set of skills and tactics compared to hard courts. While the transition has been a learning curve for Osaka, she is embracing the challenge and finding joy in the artistry of clay court tennis.
Osaka’s return to the tennis scene as a mother has been met with both admiration and curiosity from fans and fellow players alike. Many are interested to see how she balances her responsibilities as a parent with her professional tennis career, and Osaka herself is navigating this new chapter with grace and determination. As she competes at the French Open and continues her journey on the tennis circuit, Osaka is grateful for the support of her family, including her young daughter who has already brought so much joy and inspiration into her life. With a renewed sense of purpose and perspective, Osaka is ready to face whatever challenges come her way, both on and off the court.
