“The point is to make people start talking,” Naomi Osaka said after establishing her early legacy as a two-time US Open champion in 2020. While it was a peak moment for the Japanese WTA star, she had to go through the ups and downs of balancing her personal and professional lives throughout this period. No matter how distant a player is from the sport, visiting the same old arenas gives birth to a nostalgic feeling that only champions could understand. Stepping on the same courts once again for the upcoming US Open, the 26-year-old recently uncovered her thoughts.

Naomi Osaka has received a wildcard entry into the US Open singles main draw. This marked her return to the prestigious tournament after becoming a mother. The two-time US Open champion, who won in 2018 and 2020, expressed her emotions about stepping back onto the US Open courts after keeping herself away for a notable period. “Just touched the US Open grounds. This means so much to me, I could cry 🥹❤️,” she shared on Threads, reflecting the deep connection she has with the tournament.

Osaka, who gave birth to her daughter Shai in July last year, found her way back to the competitive scenes in January earlier this year. Despite facing the challenges of a dropped ranking and lost momentum, she has reached at least the third round in four WTA 1000 events this season. Her journey so far in the ongoing season has been a blend of ups and downs which she candidly detailed in a letter to her fans.

Following a loss at the Cincinnati Open, the Japanese WTA star shared a letter on social media platforms. In the letter, she opened up about her experiences over the past eight months as she highlighted her love for the sport and her desire to be kinder to herself. “I love the process (though the process doesn’t love me sometimes haha)…I want to teach my daughter that she can achieve so many things with hard work and perseverance,” Osaka wrote.

Although Osaka has not yet fully recovered to her peak form, she remains optimistic about her future in the sport. With 25 weeks as world No. 1 and four Grand Slam titles in her massive portfolio, the 26-year-old is determined to give her best. “Nothing in life is promised but I realized that I can promise myself to work as hard as I can and give it my best shot ’til the very end,” Osaka wrote, looking forward to her much-anticipated return to New York.

However, besides being happy about experiencing the nostalgic feeling, the tennis star also emphasized the hardships she currently faces with her body.

Naomi Osaka annoyed with the racket not feeling as part of her body

Naomi Osaka has been open about her ambitions for the ‘second chapter’ of her career. Although she kickstarted her season with new aspirations, saying, “I think it’s better to have big dreams,” the reality seems to have given her a hit. After a recent loss to 20-year-old American Ashlyn Krueger, the former US Open champion shared her struggles. Osaka admitted she feels disconnected from her game. “My biggest issue currently isn’t losses… my biggest issue is that I don’t feel like I’m in my body,” she wrote on Instagram.

The WTA star also described missing shots she used to make and hitting balls with less power, as she added, “It’s fine you’re doing great. Just get through this one and keep pushing, but mentally, it’s really draining though.” She compared these challenges to the feelings she had after giving birth to Shai last year.

Even though Osaka has had moments this season where she felt like herself, the inconsistency stands to be a big concern. “That scares [me] because I’ve been playing tennis since I was 3… This should be as simple as breathing to me but it’s not,” the Japanese star admitted.

Amid the ongoing concerns, Naomi Osaka still manages to find her happiness in little things that keep her sporting spirit alive. As she now looks forward to reliving the glorious moments at the US Open, fans have a keen eye on her campaign.