The glamorous world of tennis often obscures the immense pressure and challenges faced by its athletes. Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champion, returned to the Cincinnati courts where she lost to Ashlyn Krueger in the second round of qualifying. While this itself raises concerns ahead of the US Open, she recently found herself at the center of pregnancy rumors. Amidst the speculation, the Japanese tennis star not only dispelled the rumors but also offered a candid glimpse into her personal life, revealing why expanding her family isn’t a top priority at this stage.

Naomi Osaka opened up about motherhood and future plans in a TikTok video on Sunday, August 18th. The tennis star shared personal challenges she’s faced as a new mom and clarified her career aspirations. A fan’s comment on Osaka’s one of the previous videos, speculating about a potential second pregnancy and offering congratulations prompted Osaka’s response.

The 26-year-old WTA star cleared the air with the help of a candid response, saying, “I just wanna say, I’m not preggos, but if I was, I wouldn’t want many more because giving birth was traumatic. But thank you, though, for your blessings.” This aroused curiosity in the minds of her followers.

Osaka, who welcomed her first child, daughter Shai, with rapper Cordae in July 2023, has always been open about the challenges she faced during her pregnancy and early motherhood. She revealed that her pregnancy was far from easy.

In an interview with InStyle published in December, Osaka shared that she experienced a number of complications with her pregnancy that includes being tested positive for Group B streptococcus. For the unversed, it is a bacterial infection that can cause serious health issues for newborns. Along with that, she also endured over 12 hours of labor, a situation that made the experience even more difficult for her.

Speaking about her journey, Osaka said, “I don’t think people know how hard pregnancy is; no one really talks about it as much. Going into it, you kind of think, ‘Oh, it’s this beautiful journey.’ But it’s kind of rough.” The Japanese WTA star also spoke about her struggle to adjust to life as a new mother and the longing she felt to return to tennis after giving birth.

“I definitely only know this world, the tennis world, and just being away from that for a long time, it was new for me,” she told ESPN. The restrictions that came with pregnancy, like not being able to train or travel added more to her series of challenges. With these experiences in mind, it’s clear why Osaka doesn’t plan on having more children anytime soon.

As she is currently focused on regaining her momentum back in the tennis scene, it still remains to be seen how the upcoming hard court major turns out for her. Nevertheless, the recent Cincinnati loss unveiled the “biggest issue” in Osaka’s gameplay.

Naomi Osaka highlights the physical struggles post Cincinnati Open loss

Naomi Osaka recently opened up about the challenges she’s facing nearly eight months into her comeback from maternity leave. After missing the main draw at the Cincinnati Open with a close call, Osaka admitted she’s struggling to regain her momentum on the court.

“My biggest issue currently isn’t losses though, my biggest issue is that I don’t feel like I’m in my body,” she shared in a letter, describing how she’s been missing shots she wouldn’t normally miss and hitting the ball with less power than she remembers.

Osaka, who returned to competition in January, has had several moments of self-doubt and frustration throughout this season. “Internally, I hear myself screaming, ‘[W]hat the hell is happening?!?!'” she wrote. Although she’s had flashbacks of her old self, Osaka is still optimistic about following her passion for the sport.

Amid surrounded by a series of challenges, the WTA star is fully focused on writing the second chapter of her professional career.