Naomi Osaka is a living testament to the saying “No pain, no gain.” Returning in 2024 after delivering her daughter, Shai, in August 2023, Osaka faced a tough comeback, marked by early exits and injuries, including back and abdominal issues during the Asian swing. Despite setbacks, Naomi ended her 2024 season strong at the China Open and made a comeback in Auckland, reaching the finals against Clara Tauson. However, an abdominal injury at the Australian Open forced her to withdraw in the third round. Yet, she’s far from done.

Since her Australian Open exit, she’s been sharing insights from her practice sessions and recovery journey. Alongside her coach Patrick Mouratoglou, Osaka is putting in the hard work, often joking that the training is so intense she might need an “ambulance” soon. Despite the humor, Osaka is dead serious about regaining her elite status.

Speaking to CNN on February 22, Osaka opened up about her 2025 season goals. She said, “I have a lot of goals going forward. For as long as I can play, I really want to win Wimbledon and Roland Garros (the French Open) and get a career grand slam.” Currently ranked 57th in the WTA, Osaka has already won the US Open twice (2018, 2020) and the Australian Open (2019, 2021). The French Open and Wimbledon remain the only two Grand Slams she hasn’t conquered, and she’s determined to change that.

In 2021, she faced depression and other issues, leading to a highly publicized withdrawal from the French Open and Wimbledon. By 2022, she was struggling with early exits when she did compete. Then, in January 2023, she announced her pregnancy and took the year off. Despite her past successes, Osaka feels there’s more to achieve. She noted, “It’s interesting when I hear from an outside perspective because, of course, all of the achievements (I’ve had so far) are great, but I always feel like there’s a lot more to do.”

Will Osaka bag another Grand Slam this year? Only time will tell. For now, she’s training hard to regain her form. With her progress before the Australian Open, perhaps she’ll bring that fighting spirit back onto the court.

Naomi Osaka hopes to get her “pink back” on the court

After a challenging return to tennis following a 15-month hiatus, during which she welcomed her adorable daughter Shai, Osaka is finally hitting her stride. In an email interview with The Japan Times, she candidly shared, “It’s definitely been a challenge returning to elite sport after giving birth. The sport continues with or without you and you’re playing a bit of catch-up when returning from a hiatus.” But the good news is that she’s been putting in the hard work, and it’s paying off. Osaka revealed, “Recently, I’ve been feeling like I’m returning to pre-pregnancy performance level and it’s a great feeling knowing that all the hard work I’ve been putting in is paying off.”

Since last year, she’s been open about her postpartum body image struggles and insecurities as a new mom. But, as she says, she’s “reclaiming her pink” – a popular TikTok phrase inspired by flamingos that lose their vibrant color while caring for their babies, only to regain it over time. It’s a fitting metaphor for Osaka’s journey, as she navigates the challenges of motherhood and elite sports.

Despite the ups and downs, Osaka has shown significant progress this year. Her Australian Open campaign was cut short due to an abdominal injury, but before that, she made impressive strides in Auckland, reaching her first final since the 2022 Miami Open.

Now Naomi Osaka is gearing up for her return to Indian Wells, a tournament where she feels right at home. She recently announced her participation through an Instagram Q&A with fans on February 23. As she trains and prepares, the question on everyone’s mind is: will she make a deep run in this tournament? Share your thoughts in the comments below!