Osaka Ponders Clay Season Amid Motherhood ‘Dilemma’

Former world number one Naomi Osaka is weighing up how to best balance her professional tennis career with motherhood, following a 7-5, 6-4 defeat to Australia’s Talia Gibson in her opening match on Saturday.

Osaka made her return to the tour in 2024 after a fifteen-month break, which saw the birth of her daughter. She reached the US Open semi-finals last year but withdrew from her scheduled third-round match at the Australian Open in January due to an abdominal injury.

The four-time Grand Slam champion recently lost to world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the pre-quarterfinals at Indian Wells this month, followed by another early exit in Miami.

When questioned about her plans for the upcoming clay court season, Osaka revealed she is considering the demands of the tour against the time she wishes to spend at home.

“I feel like this also is a dilemma for me,” Osaka told reporters. “For me, my daughter is very important, and I want to be a mum. I want to be the best mum I can, but sometimes I feel like I know what I have to do to become a really good player, and it’s very difficult.”

She continued, “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.”

Osaka confirmed her immediate schedule: “I’m not going to play Charleston. I hope I can play Madrid, Rome and then, obviously, the French Open.”

Gibson, 21, is set to face Iva Jovic in the next round on Sunday.