Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka is one of the brightest future prospects for women’s tennis. The 24-year-old has already won 4 Grand Slam titles at a very young age. However, the former world number was in the news lately for other reasons. As Osaka was brave enough to come up and accept her mental health issues publically.

She pulled out of the French Open 2021 midway for similar reasons. While many lauded her for the move, she also had to face a bit of backlash for the same. In an interview, Osaka spoke about the same.

Osaka thinks about her immediate family in negative times

Osaka is going through a rough patch in her career. The 24-year-old has given a below-par performance in the year 2022. For the last two years, she has found herself surrounded by controversies. However, when dealing with all that negativity, the first concern for Osaka is her immediate family.

“I always think about my immediate family first and I was a little bit worried for them because I feel like everyone knows about the situation that happened in the US Open,” she said.

Back in 2020, in her US Open campaign, the 24-year-old used masks with the name of Black Americans who were killed in a situation of police violence or racial profiling. All she wanted was to make people talk about the issue. However, it did not go well with a certain section of fans who called her out. But Osaka isn’t bothered about all that until her loved one’s keep supporting her.

Top Stories

Match-Fixing Scandal Erupts in Tennis After Arrests Uncover $821K Scheme

Carlos Alcaraz’s Split With Coach Resulted From ‘Major Disagreements’ With His Father

Carlos Alcaraz Split With Juan Carlos Ferrero After “Unacceptable” Contract Talks Turn Sour

Naomi Osaka Ends Chapter With Longtime Business Partner in Major Off-Court Move

Top 3 Biggest Match Fixing Scandals in Tennis History

Read more: ‘See Where My Dad Was…’ – Naomi Osaka Details Weird Winning Moment Against Serena Williams at 2018 US Open

“That’s sort of what I am known for when people think of me and using my voice. So as long as you talk about the mask. As long as the people that I love support me, I was gonna be ok,” she added.

Naomi Osaka to take part in Silicon Valley Classics

Osaka has had a start-stop season so far. The Japanese last featured in the French Open 2022 where she was knocked out of the first round by Amanda Anisimova.

Later, she pulled out of Wimbledon Championship 2022 because of an injury. However, the 24-year-old is set to make a return to the court. She will play the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classics in San Jose.

Watch this story: When Naomi Osaka encountered difficult interaction with the press

Now that the US Open is not too far away, it will be good preparation for the Japanese, going into the Grand Slam event.