Naomi Osaka is making her return to the French Open, having reached the last 16 at the Italian Open. The four-time major champion, who is also a mother, has learned valuable lessons from motherhood that have helped her succeed both on and off the tennis court. She believes that skills like patience, resilience, and adaptability are crucial for success in both areas of her life.
As a mother, Osaka has learned to be patient with her daughter Shai and to adapt to her needs. She has also become more resilient in the face of challenges that come with being a parent. These skills have carried over into her tennis game as well, helping her navigate the challenges of playing on clay courts at Roland Garros.
Osaka recently reunited with Shai in Paris after spending five weeks apart during the European clay-court swing. She was thrilled to see how well Shai was doing and expressed how tough it had been to be away from her daughter. Seeing Shai take her first steps was a special moment for Osaka and she is grateful for having her by her side during the tournament.
Despite winning all of her major titles on hard courts, Osaka has not gone past the last 32 on clay at Roland Garros. She returned from maternity leave earlier this year and is currently ranked 134th in the world. However, she recently reached the last 16 on clay at Wimbledon and feels confident going into the French Open.
On day one of the tournament, Osaka will kick off play by playing in the first match on Court Philippe Chatrier while Andy Murray will play in the night session against Stan Wawrinka. Other British players including Jack Draper will also be in action during their respective matches while Carlos Alcaraz will follow up his match against Osaka by facing American JJ Wolf later that day.
Overall, Naomi Osaka’s return to Roland Garros promises to be an exciting start to another year of tennis tournaments at one of Europe’s most prestigious events.
