Will Naomi Osaka retire from tennis after giving birth?

• Since she announced her pregnancy in January 2023, there are many speculations
• The major one is whether she will return to tennis after giving birth
• Osaka is pregnant for American rapper, Cordae

If you are wondering if Naomi Osaka is headed for retirement after the birth of her baby sometime this year, be informed that she is looking forward to a solid tennis comeback.

Osaka, a four-time grand slam champion is optimistic about winning a fifth major slam after her return not just as a player but as a mother too.

Since her pregnancy announcement in January 2023, speculation on her return to tennis was rife.

Although relatively young, Osaka is exceptionally well prepared for life beyond tennis thanks to some astute financial decisions. She has, however, acknowledged that she wants to return to the game.

“I definitely plan to come back…it’s kind of like a break a little bit, but also I feel very competitive still, and I really want to win more slams,” she said in an interview with WBS according to tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg.

Naomi Osaka. Photo/Naomi Osaka/IG

NAOMI OSAKA PREGNANCY JOURNEY

In light of her pregnancy and the now obvious Naomi Osaka comeback, she is working towards helping children keep a good state of their mental health.

Osaka and Modern Health have collaborated to create a library of child-friendly mindfulness exercises through meditation.

“As I’ve aged, I’ve relied more and more on meditation to help me control my emotions. I wish I had used it more when I was younger, so I’m thrilled that there are now children’s meditations available for kids of all ages,” she told PEOPLE.

Osaka has also teamed up with Modern Health to put together a collection of children’s mindfulness meditations. Now 25, she maintains that mediation has become a much bigger part of how she handles her emotions. She feels sorry that she did not use it as much back in the day when she was younger and vulnerable.

Having battled mental health issues before, Osaka knows the value of eradicating the stigma associated with seeking treatment and how being open can serve as a catalyst for healing.

The outspoken nature regarding her mental health battles has helped a lot of people pull through similar challenges.  Feedback from mental health victims inspired her to come up with a book for kids teaching them about meditation.

“I love that I am able to help create resources for kids that weren’t available or common when I was a kid. I hope that kids are able to learn how to manage their feelings and emotions at an early age so that they can continue to use these tools later in life,” she added.

WHO IS THE FATHER OF NAOMI OSAKA’S UNBORN BABY?

Naomi Osaka with Rapper Cordae. Photo/Essentially Sports

American rapper Cordae is the father of Osaka’s unborn baby. Tennis fans lightly say that he is one of the reasons for speculation on Naomi Osaka tennis comeback.  He first met Osaka in 2019 at a Los Angeles Clippers game.

Surprisingly, he didn’t know her until then. He watched her play at the 2019 US Open, and this was his first tennis match to watch. Since then, he watched several other matches as his tennis interest piqued.

She is clearly in a happy relationship judging by her pregnancy news on January 10.  Along with her boyfriend Cordae, the 25-year-old tennis prodigy is also one-half of the “coolest young couple on the planet,” according to a previous GQ magazine article.

The Japanese tennis star says Cordae is a crucial component of her life’s journey and continues to be. Despite the fact that the two are pretty private, they have shared a few adorable moments with the world in the past.

One of them is when Cordae travelled to visit Osaka at the 2020 U.S. Open following reports that she was battling loneliness. This was Osaka’s lowest moment which ended in her taking a hiatus.

She flew to Greece and went straight to the Island of Mykonos and the famous Temple of Isis (III). Then, at the 2021 Met Gala, the Cordae and Osaka made a rare red carpet appearance together.

Osaka and Cordae had quite different childhoods. The tennis icon was born in Japan and raised in Florida and New York while pursuing a tennis career. In contrast, Cordae tells L.A. Times that he’s had the best and worst of American life. From living in a trailer for five years, living in the trenches of Maryland, to finally attending college, he has a story to tell.

Gladly though, the couple teaches each other through these life experiences and their travel experiences.