Former world primary Naomi Osaka says she doesn’t “really feel like I am in my physique” following her return to tennis after a maternity break.
Japan’s Osaka returned to the WTA Tour in January after the start of her first youngster, daughter Shai, in July 2023.
Since then, the four-time Grand Slam champion has struggled to rediscover her finest type and been unable to advance previous the quarter-finals at any match.
“My largest concern presently is not losses although, my largest concern is that I do not really feel like I am in my physique,” Osaka, 26, wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.
“It is a unusual feeling, lacking balls I should not miss, hitting balls softer than I bear in mind I used to. I attempt to inform myself, ‘It is tremendous you are doing nice. Simply get by way of this one and preserve pushing.’ Mentally it is actually draining by way of.”
Osaka was defeated by American Ashlyn Kreuger within the second spherical of qualifying for the Cincinnati Open on Monday.
