‘MY DAUGHTER, MY BIGGEST PRIORITY’ – NAOMI OSAKA CONSIDERS QUITTING TENNIS

Naomi Osaka has said she would consider stepping away from professional tennis if her daughter asked her to spend less time travelling.

Speaking in Tokyo ahead of the Pan Pacific Open, the four-time Grand Slam champion explained that motherhood had changed how she viewed her career and future.

Osaka, whose daughter Shai is three, said she remained committed to competing but could no longer devote every part of her day to tennis.

“My daughter is my biggest priority,” she said.

The former world number one admitted that balancing family responsibilities with life on tour sometimes made her question how much longer she would continue playing.

“If my daughter did say she didn’t want me to travel as much, I’m not the type of person to ignore that,” she added.

Now ranked 19th in the world, Osaka said she was proud of her progress while managing responsibilities beyond the court.

She previously took a break from tennis in 2021 to prioritise her mental health and later spent time away during pregnancy and early motherhood.

Osaka has not announced plans to retire. Her comments instead underline how strongly her daughter’s needs will influence decisions about the next stage of her career.