The effect of postpartum depression is much more than most people could imagine. Dealing with self-doubt and facing difficulties regaining her tennis form, Naomi Osaka struggled for a long time. Yet, the resurgence story continues for the 4x Grand Slam champion. After making the semifinals of the US Open, the tennis champion continues to break barriers and return to the form she showcased in 2018-19. And now, as the spectators witnessed her staunch comeback, Serena Williams’ ex-coach also took a moment to share his words of wisdom on Osaka’s return.

In a latest tweet on X, Rick Macci spoke about Osaka’s positive mindset following the stressful years of her career. Upbeat about her form after losing in the semifinals, Osaka mentioned, “I’m happy that I lost in the semis instead of the first round or the third round or whatever I usually get to.”

Thus, with everyone cheering for her, Macci’s tweet stated, “Look for Osaka to shoot to another level and be in the mix for every Grand Slam and top 5 by year end 2026. She got a new accurate voice on court and on the run made a much better choice. Now she is happy positive and free and we will see the best of the best of the 4 TIME SLAM CHAMPION NAOMI. @naomiosaka.”

Ranked 14 right now, Osaka has a turbulent record in previous years and also took a 14-month hiatus from tennis due to pregnancy. Inconsistent results, problems in court positioning, adopting more defensive tactics while playing on the court, and splits with coaches all contributed to Osaka’s problematic time on court. Yet, she’s back with a bang. Showcasing solid determination at the US Open, Osaka’s career is just getting started. Most of her terrific performances could be the new training methods she’s adopted.

Naomi Osaka’s road to redemption

Everyone likes fairytale stories in tennis. With Osaka reaching the semifinals, her training methods could be one of the critical reasons for her comeback. She’s focusing more on her agility through new and improved training drills. She broke down her routine in an interview with The Cut and stated, “I then train from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. six days a week. I typicaly start my day with a warm-up before hitting for about two to three hours. After I hit, I do my off-court training, which consists of strength and conditioning, cardio, and then treatment.”

Since the Japanese works out so much, she has to make time for her body to recover. She shared her favorite ways of doing so, and added, “It’sreally important that I take care of myself post-training, so stretching, working with a massage therapist, and just making sure I do whatever I can for post-care.”

These drills help her condition and avoid injuries that could dampen her progress. Like her physical health, her mental stability has contributed to better performances. She’s been an advocate for prioritizing mental health, which helps her regain her focus and avoid burnout.

Even though she has no grand slam victories this year, it looks like Osaka’s 2025 could shape her tennis future in 2026. Who knows, she could win a grand slam in 2026 and get back to being the best.