While the players are gearing up for the Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga, Naomi Osaka has announced she wouldn’t be participating this year. She missed the event last year as well due to the birth of her daughter. This time, it’s her injuries keeping her off the court. Osaka, however, is still looking at the lighter side of things. She has a sense of humor indeed!

Fans were understandably concerned about Osaka’s health after she withdrew from the season in October. In a statement made in Tokyo, she revealed that she wouldn’t compete in the Billie Jean King Cup due to a ruptured abdominal muscle. “I thought I strained my back, but I did an MRI in Beijing and they said that I bulged a disc in my back and I also ruptured abdominal muscles,” Osaka explained to Japan’s Kyodo News agency. Thankfully, she is now focusing on rest and recovery to get back to full health.

Despite her setbacks, Osaka shared a humorous glimpse of her fitness journey on Instagram. Taking to Threads to elaborate on the challenges of training, she wrote, “When the run was so difficult that you have to sit and think about your life afterward.” She later shared that Thread post on her Instagram story and then in the next story, she posted a photo of an open road with the caption, “I thought it was over for me.”

The player seems to have a knack for posting fun stories on Instagram. Most recently, she posted what looked like her in a Halloween costume. Although her face wasn’t visible, she captioned the story saying, “Straight off the plane to go trick or treating.” That perfectly captures her wit!

Although her 2024 season didn’t go as planned, Osaka remains one of the few Asian players with four Grand Slam singles titles and seven WTA Tour titles, including two at the Premier Mandatory level. For now, she may be off the court focusing on her health, but fans can expect great things from her in the 2025 season. Her coach Patrick Mouratoglou can certainly attest to that!

Mouratoglou reveals Naomi’s vision for the 2025 season

Currently ranked No. 59, Naomi Osaka is gearing up to reclaim her place in the tennis world! This year she appeared as a wildcard entry at the US Open and played until the China Open in September. That’s where an unfortunate injury forced her to retire during her round-of-16 match against Coco Gauff. Undoubtedly, this year hasn’t been her best, but Osaka’s determination to rise again is nothing short of inspiring.

Speaking with Sky Sports, Patrick Mouratoglou stated, “She’s extremely motivated to come back and win Grand Slams, and it’s a pleasure for me because that’s the dream of every coach: to have a player who has that level of motivation,” The two joined forces in September after Osaka’s split with Wim Fisette, who is now working with the Polish player Iga Swiatek. While Fissette helped Osaka snag two Grand Slam titles, it’s been a tough journey for Osaka. “First, she had this mental health issue, and then she had a baby. So she’s been out, and then she restarted the year this season and it was not a very good season,” Fissette admitted. Over the years, the Japanese player has been quite candid about juggling mental health challenges and the demands of being a new mom.

Interestingly, Osaka was hesitant to work with Fissette initially. But thankfully, she quickly realized he was exactly what she needed. “I think the fact that he was Serena’s coach for me made me want to avoid him just because his persona is so big. Then I met him, talked to him, worked with him on the court. He absolutely is a really good coach,” she said

Every player has a unique experience with their coach, and this pair is no exception. While Naomi knows her recent form has dipped, coach Mouratoglou remains optimistic about their future together. He sees a fire in Osaka that mirrors Williams’ drive, which could be the key to greatness for both players.

The road back to the top hasn’t been easy for Osaka, but she’s taking all the necessary steps to make a comeback. Do you think fans will see a new and improved Naomi Osaka when the 2025 season rolls around? Share your thoughts in the comments below!