Setbacks and Struggles: Naomi Osaka’s Tumultuous 2025 Season
Things haven’t gone to plan for Naomi Osaka this year. The four-time Grand Slam champ looked set for a strong comeback, but repeated injuries and disappointing results have thrown her right off course. At the Australian Open in January, hopes were high. Then, in the third round, she was forced to retire against Belinda Bencic after an abdominal problem that just wouldn’t quit. This isn’t the first time that injury cropped up either—just weeks earlier, she pulled out of the Auckland final with the same issue.
The health concerns pile on top of what’s already been a busy chapter in Osaka's life. After becoming a mom to baby Shai last July, she took a well-deserved break. Her fans were eager to see how she’d fare back on tour, especially after she showed flashes of her old form on the Auckland hard courts. But through the year, that spark’s been hard to keep alive. Each time it looks like she’s found her rhythm, another physical setback knocks her off track. And ranking-wise, the consequence is pretty clear—the former No. 1 now finds herself outside the top 40, languishing around world No. 50.
Tough Losses, Honest Words, and Uncertain Roads
Wimbledon in July was another tough stop on the calendar. Osaka took the first set off Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova but let the match slip away in three. Her own assessment after that loss was brutally frank: she talked about expecting more of herself, feeling weighed down by errors, and not giving herself much space to see the positives. She wasn’t afraid to admit to a press room full of reporters that self-criticism is something she struggles with, even apologizing for her own negativity.
Osaka’s transparency is nothing new. In recent years, she’s made waves both for her tennis brilliance and her openness about mental health. After the birth of her daughter, balancing elite-level training with parenting has added layers of complexity that few top players have faced so publicly. She’s spoken honestly about the emotional and physical toll that comes with competing after maternity leave, telling reporters at the Australian Open how hard it is to get back in form while still being a hands-on mom.
Speculation about a possible break from tennis is swirling again. This isn’t the first time Osaka’s future in the sport has felt uncertain—she’s taken time away before, always for highly personal reasons. But after a year of stop-start momentum, nagging injuries, and frustration with her game, it’s no wonder the questions are building. She’s yet to announce any firm plans, but fans and pundits alike are watching closely.
For now, Naomi Osaka faces some big choices. Her story this season isn’t just about wins or losses on the scoreboard. It’s about the raw, ongoing challenge of juggling tennis injuries, career ambitions, and family—some of the toughest matches an athlete can play.