The Japanese athlete reached her first final since 2022 in Auckland, but had to retire after winning the first set against Denmark’s Clara Tauson due to injury.
“In that moment it was devastating,” admitted two-time Australian Open champion Osaka, a former world number one. It just sucked because I felt like my body wasn’t keeping up with what my mind wanted it to do.”
Osaka expressed her concerns about her ability to compete at Melbourne Park, where the first Grand Slam of the year kicks off on Sunday.
She mentioned that she had undergone a scan to assess the injury, which yielded mixed results.
“The MRI, it wasn’t fantastic, but it wasn’t bad at the same time. I’m pretty optimistic about playing my match. I mean, for sure I’m going to play my match. I’ve been practising pretty well for the two days that I’ve been here, so it seems to be going good.”
After taking a 15-month hiatus to give birth to her first child in 2023, Osaka returned to the tour a year ago. Currently ranked 50th, she has secured two of her four Grand Slam titles at Melbourne Park in 2019 and 2021.
In the first round, she is set to face France’s 58th-ranked Caroline Garcia, a rematch of last year’s first-round encounter, which Garcia won.
Osaka acknowledged the challenges of returning to tennis after childbirth, noting that she is still adjusting.
“After giving birth, it was definitely really tough to even run,” the 27-year-old said. I do understand why it’s very difficult to even get (back) to a professional level. There is no guidebook. But you kind of just go off what your body says.”