Naomi Osaka was defeated in straight sets by Talia Gibson at the first level of the Miami Open.
Osaka has dealt with a number of injuries to start her campaign, and her appearance in Florida was only her fourth game of the season.
advertise
Her tactics were already under scrutiny after Indian Wells, and the loss to Gibson only heightened those doubts.
The biggest sign of concern for Osaka fans came after the game, when she expressed doubts about whether she would continue playing.
Naomi Osaka hints at possible retirement after withdrawing from Miami Open
Photography by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Osaka’s early-season struggles have left her reflecting on whether she wants to continue competing, especially as she balances her career with motherhood.
At a press conference after the Miami Open, she said: “I feel like it’s a dilemma for me as well. Obviously, I would love to play, but like I said last year… for me, my daughter is very important and I want to be a mom.
advertise
“I want to be the best mom I can be, but sometimes I feel like I know what I have to do to be a really good player, and that’s very difficult. I’m not going to play in Charleston.”
“I hope I can play Madrid, Rome and then obviously the French Open. For me, like I said last year, if I lose in the first round, I’m not going to continue on tour,” she said.
Despite hopes of finishing the clay court season and reaching Roland Garros, a string of early exits could force Osaka to give up on tennis altogether.
Osaka, now ranked 15th in the world, finds herself struggling through one of her most difficult stretches of the tour after another loss this week.
advertise
Naomi Osaka is too talented to give up tennis
Although her recent results have been less than stellar, Osaka’s performance against Gibson in Miami wasn’t without positives.
Gibson was in good form during the Sunshine Doubles, taking advantage of several key breaks to take the lead.
Osaka remained strong on serve, trailing only one serve and one point throughout the set. It shows that she still has the tools that made her so successful.
If she left now, it would be a big loss for the WTA Tour. Not only is she a former world number one, but she’s also a four-time Grand Slam champion, and there’s nothing to say she can’t reach the top again.
advertise
Read more:
