WTA star Naomi Osaka is a fire that refuses to flicker. She stepped into the 2025 season with renewed hope, tasting triumph and heartbreak in her career. Now, with each match, she aims to chase something beyond the flashing trophies. But what is inspiring her this season? During a casual moment, the Japanese athlete slips her New Year’s resolution with a twist, leaving her followers hanging onto her every word.

Osaka started her season with a great spirit and became the 2025 ASB Classic’s finalist. She then participated in the Melbourne Slam but exited the tournament in the third round. Overcoming heartbreak, she now prepares for her exhibition match against Aryna Sabalenka in Las Vegas. Osaka’s MGM Rewards Slam against Sabalenka will happen on the first of March.

Before she gears up for the star-studded event, the official IG platform of the Australian Open shared a reel of the WTA star, enjoying a game of foosball/tabletop soccer with one of the officials. While they played the game, Osaka candidly revealed her resolution for 2025, leaving her followers excited.

“I think just to know that I’m improving as a person. Just to try as hard as I can everyday, no matter what I do and then I feel like if I do that, the bar of like trying is gonna keep getting taller? “ Osaka said while reflecting on her goals for the year.

Although brief, her statement highlighted her zeal for improvement and the lingering stress of setting her bar higher every time. Although the anxiety is still there, Osaka seemed more confident about her form this season. During her tournament in Auckland, she said in an interview with Punto de Break, “I’m ready for battle, I feel that now I have the necessary willpower to return to the top.”

This WTA star reflected on her last season and believed more than her form, her mentality became a reason for her setback.

“I am not the most talented tennis player in the world, but I have worked very hard my whole life, which has given me confidence in my abilities. I must learn to be more aggressive on the court, to approach each match like a boxing match where I have to show that I want to win more than my opponent,” she said. Osaka’s words reflected the emotions of a hard-working athlete who strives each day to become the better version of herself on the court.

Despite tremendous efforts, tennis isn’t Osaka’s only priority. After her daughter Shai’s birth, this Japanese WTA star’s life revolves very much around her daughter. In a confession last year, Osaka revealed how motherhood inspires her professional journey. Following her revelation, she also shed light on this exclusive role that brought a lot of changes to her mentality.

Naomi Osaka confessed that motherhood gives her “motivation”

Last year before her match against Ons Jabeur at the Canadian Open, Osaka was candid about her life as a mother. She also explained how the meaning of success changed for her after Shai’s arrival. “Well, I would say when I was younger I defined success by winning tournaments, winning matches. I defined my worth a lot by like whether I won or lost and now I would say for example I lost in the Olympics I was of course really devastated but I don’t know I was just surrounded by my team and then I went back home and I saw my daughter and I don’t know she’s just happy to be alive.”

She continued, “She’s happy that I’m her mom for some reason and it just gave me a lot I guess motivation.” Now Osaka lost the Paris Olympics’ first round to Angelique Kerber. While the loss was devastating, she found peace amidst her daughter’s company, realizing life was beyond winning or losing tournaments.

Therefore, Naomi Osaka’s resolution for this year highlights her maturity. It shows that setbacks taught her a great lesson: to embrace every moment in life without stressing about improvements. However, she is also determined to work harder and return to her old form to reinstall the faith among her supporters that she can win more Grand Slams in her career.