WTA star Naomi Osaka recently admitted to practicing control on her “overthinking.” After consistently struggling to regain momentum following her maternity break, the Japanese pro shared a mental health management routine with her fans and promised to give it another try.
Naomi Osaka Unveils Fresh Mental Health Routine Ahead of Her Entry at the US Open
After giving birth to daughter Shai in July 2023, Osaka returned to tennis in 2024, winning a WTA 125 title in Saint-Malo and climbing back into the top 50. However, she couldn’t attain the same levels that helped her secure four major titles.
She lost in the first round of the French Open to Paula Badosa amid painful blisters and then exited Wimbledon in the third round after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
While preparing for the last Grand Slam event of the season, Osaka informed her social media fanbase about practicing a new routine to reduce her overthinking. The Japanese pro updated fans with her new approach of not letting things get down in her head with a post on Threads.
“I’m practicing not being an overthinker. I’m just gonna let some things flow like water 🌊,” she wrote.
Just minutes after informing fans about the new resolution, she dropped another update on the practice, saying:
“Unfortunately my practicing did not work today, I will try again tomorrow 😔😭.”
After the setback defeat at Wimbledon, Osaka is now expected to compete at the WTA 500 event in Washington, D.C. Other top competitors in the event include Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, Emma Raducanu and others.
Naomi Osaka Unveils Her Thoughts on the Importance of Mental Health
Osaka has always been vocal about focusing on mental health. After tackling serious issues such as depression and anxiety in 2018, Osaka openly talked about the matter and therefore became an inspiration for many. She also withdrew from the French Open in 2021 after being fined $15,000 for skipping mandatory press. She credited the decision to overwhelming anxiety around media appearances.
Tennis player Naomi Osaka has stepped out into the media spotlight once more after announcing back in May she would be taking a break from press conferences, as well as the French Open, to focus on her mental health. pic.twitter.com/Op07HSBYN5
— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) July 8, 2021
Before competing at the Australian Open in 2025, the four-time Grand Slam champion highlighted the importance of mental health, drawing it parallel to physical well-being.
“Talking to others about challenges is easier than keeping it inside. Your physical health and your mental health are equally as important,” she said.
Further unveiling her meditation routine, she added: “I love to listen to relaxing sounds – and sometimes to running water if I want to shake it up a bit.”
Currently holding a 20-10 win-loss record in the ongoing season, Osaka is preparing to transition to the hard courts in the ongoing US swing to prepare for the upcoming major event at the US Open.
