Naomi Osaka gives update after retirement hint as star makes winning return at Madrid Open | Tennis | Sport

Naomi Osaka is feeling better on and off the court after sparking retirement concerns at last month’s Miami Open. The former world No. 1 suffered a shock early exit at the Hard Rock Stadium, and admitted she didn’t want to stay on tour if she was losing in the first rounds at the expense of being away from her daughter, Shai, who will turn three this summer.

A month later, Osaka returned to competition on the clay courts in Madrid, winning the last four games of her opening-round match to beat Camila Osorio 6-2 7-5, and appeared a lot happier. And it’s no surprise the four-time Major champion is feeling positive this week, as her daughter has travelled to Spain with her.

Reflecting on the last month, Osaka said: “I was able to go home, honestly, pretty much be a mum. So I would take her to school, pick her up from school, and it was really cool. And she’s here with me, so just getting to see her face, and going to practises, and coming back, it’s been really special to me. So yeah, I don’t have any complaints or anything.

“Honestly, I think her growing older and just being able to figure out her schedule, obviously, with school, it’s been really helpful. And I also just really love travelling with her, like, showing her the world and just exploring. She loves travelling. She loves the airport. She loves airplanes.”

Having Shai around has helped the world No. 15 find a better balance between her on and off-court lives, and she confirmed she was feeling much better about her game than she did just a month ago. “I think, for me, on clay, I have one goal, which is to go out on my own terms,” Osaka explained.

“I think obviously, I did okay in Australia, was doing okay in Indian Wells. I played Sabalenka, and I think from there I learned a lesson of just trying to be more aggressive, and I’m trying to implement it here.”

After winning her first match on clay this season, she added: “It was definitely really tough, but I got here a couple days early, so I was able to practice quite a while, and obviously, I’ve played my opponent before, so that also helped. Honestly, [the adjustment] is not that bad. I feel like I’ve also played a couple really good matches on clay, too, so I can draw from that experience. So overall, pretty positive.”

It wouldn’t be an Osaka match without a fashion statement, and the 28-year-old took to the court wearing a colourful hat and matching headscarf to match her orange dress. “So that was kind of a nod to European summers,” she said.

“And obviously, my outfit is all orange, which is kind of tying us back into clay courts. I know it’s weird to say, it was a little simple for me, given all, like, the extraness that I’ve been doing recently! But I think it’s a really elegant look, and I’m excited because there’s different themes and stuff to do in Rome, and obviously here, too. So I’ll just keep trying to switch it up a little.”

Osaka faces qualifier Anhelina Kalinina for a place in the last 16 on Saturday.

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