Naomi Osaka has suggested that she may be ready to retire from tennis (Image: Getty)
Naomi Osaka has hinted that she could quit the WTA Tour and announce her retirement from tennis following her early exit at the Miami Open. The four-time Grand Slam champion was beaten in four sets by Talia Gibson, blowing two break points early in the match. She went on to lose the opening two games of the second set, allowing Gibson to seal a comfortable 7-5 6-4 victory.
Osaka has struggled to return to the top level of women’s tennis over the last few years. She has endured a turbulent few months, withdrawing from the Australian Open due to injury after causing controversy in a row with Sorana Cirstea following their second-round clash. Her latest defeat at the Miami Open was a painful one for the 28-year-old, who flirted with retirement after the match.
She insisted that she was fed up with losing in the early rounds of tournaments, saying that she would rather step away from professional tennis and devote herself to looking after her daughter.
“For me, like I said last year, I’m not going to stay on the Tour if I’m losing in the first round,” said Osaka. “I’d rather just be a great mom and be there for my daughter.
“Because for me, I want to win titles and I want to be the best player I can, but if I have to sacrifice having a lot of time with my daughter, I’d rather not do it.”
Quizzed on her schedule for the next few months, Osaka replied: “I’m not going to play Charleston. I hope I can play Madrid, Rome and then obviously the French Open.”
Earlier this month, she spoke about the challenges she has faced since returning to tennis, explaining how she had adjusted her mindset to try and enjoy herself on the court.
Osaka was beaten by Talia Gibson in her first match at the Miami Open (Image: Getty)
“For me, I’m a little bit of a perfectionist, only when it comes to tennis,” said Osaka. “I have been playing since I was so young, and I want things to go a certain way, because that’s how I practice.
“But I’m learning how to let go and kind of just take every day as a new adventure, so it’s a little easier now to be happy, especially since I’m getting older.
“So, you know, these joints don’t work like they used to, but yeah, I’m just happy to have been able to play.”
Osaka was ranked as the world’s best female player by the WTA for a total of 25 weeks, starting in 2019. She became the first Asian player to hold the top singles ranking after winning that year’s Australian Open.
She took a lengthy break from tennis following the birth of her daughter, returning in 2024. Last year, Osaka reached the semi-finals of the US Open but has otherwise failed to get close to her former level.
EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page.
Stay up-to-date with the latest Tennis news Join us on WhatsApp
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
AloJapan.com