Naomi Osaka recently opened up about her post-partum journey during a mental health awareness panel discussion at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City, which is synonymous with the US Open. She joined forces with Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps to shed light on the importance of mental health awareness.

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On Wednesday, September 6, Naomi Osaka got candid about her post-partum journey. The four-time Grand Slam singles champion shared how much she missed the feeling of playing tennis, when she spoke to ESPN, expressing:

 “I feel a lot of joy coming back here. It’s kind of like seeing an old friend I haven’t seen in a long time.” 

Despite not playing since September 2022’s Toray Pan Pacific Open, when she announced her temporary departure from the game due to her pregnancy and the subsequent arrival of her daughter Shai in July 2023, Osaka confessed:

“I went through the little players’ tunnel, but obviously, I’m not playing. It made me itch to want to play again, but I guess I’ll have to wait until next year.”

Additionally, Osaka addressed her feelings of “loneliness” during her pregnancy. She opened up about how tennis was the “only world” she knew, emphasizing the challenges she faced adapting to the changes that came with pregnancy and feeling “restricted.” Despite these struggles, Osaka described her experience of motherhood as positive, stating that it has been treating her “well.”

Moreover, Osaka revealed her plans to make a return to competitive tennis at the Australian Open in January, a tournament she had previously won in 2019 and 2021. Considering the uncertainty surrounding her level of play and the adjustments that come with returning after an extended break, Osaka stated:

 “I realized that I don’t know how the beginning of the year is going to go for me,” she said. “I don’t know the level of play, and I think I have to ease into it. At the very least, I’m going to set myself up for a very good end of the year.”

 She also shared the meaning behind her daughter’s name, explaining that:

“Shai means God’s gift, and I think that’s what I wanted her to feel like she was a gift to me and her dad [rapper Cordae].” 

Osaka expressed her excitement over Shai’s ability to bring joy to their lives.

In the world of celebrity motherhood, singer Rihanna and rapper A$AP Rocky recently added to their family. They welcomed their second child, a baby boy named Riot, in early August.