Naomi Osaka returned to training just 15 days after giving birth last year. The new mother was determined and excited to get back on the court this year. But with an upsetting 17-14 record this year, the four-time Grand Slam champion’s comeback hasn’t gone to plan. Following another painful exit in the Cincinnati Open, Osaka penned down an emotional confession on social media eliciting a response from fellow WTA star, Taylor Townsend.

Osaka first turned after giving birth was the Australia Open, where she exited in the first round. She then failed to go beyond the second rounds of the French Open and Wimbledon. With eyes on the last Grand Slam of the year, she lost to American Ashlyn Krueger 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in the final round of qualifiers, bringing her campaign to a premature end.

Following her defeat, the former World No. 1 took to her official Instagram handle on August 13, to note that after playing tennis for more than two decades, she expects the ups and downs that come with it, however, the losses she has suffered on the court aren’t the problem for her.

The tennis mom notably expressed feeling alien in her body, unable to register performances as she did before her pregnancy hiatus. She began, “My biggest issue is that I don’t feel like I’m in my body. It’s a strange feeling, missing balls I shouldn’t miss, hitting balls softer than I remember I used to.” Osaka added she hopes this feeling is just a “small phase,”  and the only feeling she can compare her current state to is “being postpartum.” Her did not go unnoticed by Taylor Townsend, who is one of the many moms on the circuit.

Being in the perfect position to acknowledge Osaka’s heartfelt letter, the American left a series of ‘red-hearted‘ emojis in the former’s IG post in a show of support and understanding. Townsend has gone through the phase of being a mother and returning to the circuit. She made a commanding return to the WTA Tour in 2022 after welcoming her son, Adyn, in March 2021.

While Townsend also stumbled on the Tour, she found her footing in the 2022 US Open as she ran to the women’s doubles final. The same would happen in the 2023 Miami Open, and French Open, followed by a fantastic win in the 2023 Cincinnati Open women’s doubles. This year, Townsend would double the glory as she won the 2024 ladies’ doubles Wimbledon. She has also won two WTA 500 events in the same category, so she knows that a comeback is possible and Osaka will that she too finds her touch soon.

 In her Instagram post, she further added why her current run of form and the disassociation she feels with her game is worrying her. 

“That scares [me] because I’ve been playing tennis since I was 3, the tennis racket should feel like an extension of my hand. I don’t understand why everything has to feel almost brand new again. This should be as simple as breathing to me but it’s not and I genuinely did not give myself grace for that fact until just now.”

After her defeat to Krueger on August 12, the Japanese tennis star has dropped to 90th in the world rankings. Yet, she concluded her IG post, with a message of perseverance and wanting to set an example for her daughter.

“I want to teach my daughter that she can achieve so many things with hard work and perseverance. I want her to aim for the stars and never think her dreams are too big, Nothing in life is promised but I realized I can promise myself to work as hard as I can and give it my best shot till the very end. See you in New York,” she concluded.

Osaka will be keen to return to the US Open. It is there where she first shot to fame winning the Grand Slam in 2018, a feat she would go on to repeat two years later. It will only be poetic if the 26-year-old is able to get back on the top at the Flushing Meadows this year.

Meanwhile, this isn’t the first time Townsend has extended her support to Osaka. She has often voiced her admiration for all tennis moms, including Osaka, for constantly sacrificing to put up with the exhausting touring schedule.

Taylor Townsend was ‘proud’ of Naomi Osaka following French Open exit

While seated at ‘The Changeover’ podcast, Townsend shared her thoughts on crossing paths with Osaka for the first time since the Japanese player became a mother. While recalling the moment she saw the former World No. 1 in the locker room of the Indian Wells Masters, Townsend said, “That was the first time that I’ve seen her like in person since having her baby.” Later, she went on to heap praises on all mothers who showcased exemplified courage with their post-pregnancy comeback.

She said, “All of the women who have had kids and came back could have easily been like, I’m good. Like, they’ve accomplished enough to where they didn’t need to, like, you didn’t have to come back. But you decided to, so I commend them. Be like, salute, position is hard.” However, that wasn’t the end of it.

After Osaka experienced a disheartening end to her French Open campaign this year, the 28-year-old lauded the former World No. 1’s on-court efforts. She wrote, “You are the truth! I know you are proud of you.. but girl… so am I!” in the comment section of a post shared by Osaka following the Roland Garros exit.

Osaka is slated to compete at the US Open next. The Japanese will need a wildcard to compete because she has exhausted all her chances of playing in slams using her Protected Ranking. If she isn’t lucky, the 26-year-old will have to climb up the main draws via qualifiers. She will hope the happy memories of the Slam help to overcome this phase.