Naomi Osaka discussed her involvement in various pursuits outside of tennis and how she has demonstrated her abilities in other areas as well. The renowned athlete is one of the highest-earning female sports figures globally, and this is not solely due to her success in tennis. While tennis contributes significantly to her income, Osaka has also found success in multiple other ventures, which have proven to be lucrative. During her pregnancy, she dedicated a considerable amount of time to these endeavors, and she has spoken extensively about them.
As she prepares to compete in the WTA 500 tournament in Abu Dhabi, the former World No.1 reflects on the period when she was away from tennis. Osaka acknowledges that not being able to participate in her beloved sport led her to explore different opportunities, and she has demonstrated her ability to excel in diverse fields. She specifically mentions her involvement with Evolve and Hana Kuma, as well as her experience designing for Nike. These experiences have shown her that she does not have to solely rely on tennis for her success.
In addition to her professional pursuits, Osaka also shares her passion for travel. During her pregnancy, she was unable to travel extensively, which made her desire to explore even stronger when she saw others around her doing so. She expresses her enjoyment at being able to move freely once again and mentions her current positive experience in Abu Dhabi.
Returning to her tennis career, Osaka had to take a break of over a year due to the birth of her first child. Although she has made a comeback, her performance has been less than ideal. She was eliminated in the second round of the Brisbane International, her first tournament since returning, and suffered a first-round exit at the 2024 Australian Open.
Now, Osaka is determined to make a comeback at the WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi. However, her path to success is not easy, as she is set to face Danielle Collins in the first round. If she advances, she will then compete against Elena Rybakina in the second round. It remains to be seen how the former World No.1 will fare in this tournament.