Childhood really was a magical time, right? No work stress or heavy decisions! Naomi Osaka seems to be feeling that nostalgia lately. After her recent exit from the Australian Open, where she had to retire in the third round against Belinda Bencic due to an abdominal injury, things aren’t looking great for her. It’s been four years since Osaka clinched a title, with her last big win at the 2021 Australian Open. As she reflects on those good old days, she’s gearing up for the rest of the 2025 season.

Raised in Japan until age three, Osaka moved to Long Island, New York, where her father encouraged her to play tennis. The family later relocated to Florida in 2006, allowing her to practice tennis during the day while being homeschooled at night. Recently, she shared a nostalgic post on Instagram, quoting Peter Pan’s Wendy waiting for a visit from Neverland. She wrote, “When I was younger I used to wait by the window for Peter Pan to come get me 💀.”

Her playful post hints at a deeper nostalgia. Not long ago, on February 2, she expressed her love for the Black Eyed Peas hit “Just Can’t Get Enough.” She shared a screenshot of the song, saying it makes her feel both “emotional and turnt,” and made a fun plea for the band to make a comeback. To top it off, she posted an adorable video of herself lip-syncing and jamming in her car with the caption, “This song is everything.”

This comes after her Australian Open journey took a tough turn when she had to withdraw due to an abdominal injury, the same issue that forced her out of the Auckland final just a week earlier. During her third-round match against Belinda Bencic, it was clear she was struggling, showing discomfort and adjusting her service motion. It’s a frustrating setback for the four-time Grand Slam champion, but she’s not letting it get her down!

Osaka gets real about her goals for the 2025 season

The WTA tour is shifting into its Middle East swing, with the Abu Dhabi Open kicking off on February 3. Unfortunately, the tournament just lost one of its biggest stars—Naomi Osaka. She has officially withdrawn after failing to make the main draw cut. Competing as an alternate might not have been the best move for the four-time Grand Slam champion, especially since she needed to either fight through qualifying rounds or hope for player withdrawals to join the main draw. Now, Osaka is gearing up for her exhibition match against Aryna Sabalenka in Las Vegas on March 1.

Before diving into that star-studded event, Osaka shared a fun moment on social media, playing football with an Australian Open official. During their game, she opened up about her resolution for 2025: “I think just to know that I’m improving as a person. Just to try as hard as I can every day, no matter what I do, and then I feel like if I do that, the bar of like trying is gonna keep getting taller.”

Despite the ups and downs, Osaka is determined to keep pushing forward. She recently said, “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,” acknowledging that she knows she needs to be more aggressive on the court. With that fierce attitude, we can’t wait to see if she’ll bounce back even stronger at her exhibition match in March! What do you think?