Naomi Osaka has raised doubts about her tennis future after her disappointing loss to Talia Gibson in the second round of the 2026 Miami Open. The 16th seed, who had received a first-round bye, failed to make it past her tournament opener as Talia Gibson claimed a 7-5, 6-4 victory in their match. Following the tough loss, the four-time Grand Slam champion spoke candidly about her future in the sport, highlighting her desire to prioritize motherhood.
What Did Naomi Osaka Say After Her Miami Open Exit?
Naomi Osaka opened up about her difficult personal “dilemma” while speaking to reporters at the Miami Open, explaining that her desire to be the best mother to her two-year-old daughter Shai was difficult to juggle with her tennis ambitions.
“I feel like this also is a dilemma for me,” Osaka said. “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. I want to be the best mom I can, but sometimes I feel like I know what I have to do to become a really good player, and it’s very difficult.”
The 28-year-old also made it clear that she had no intention of continuing her tennis career if she kept losing early at tournaments, since it wouldn’t be worth sacrificing precious time with her daughter.
“For me, like I said last year, I’m not going to stay on tour if I’m losing in the first round. I’d rather just be a great mom and be there for my daughter. Because for me, I want to win titles and I want to be the best player I can, but if I have to sacrifice having a lot of time with my daughter, I’d rather not do it,” she added.
Osaka gave birth to her daughter Shai in July 2023 and made her return to the WTA Tour at the 2024 Brisbane International. She went on to enjoy a strong 2025 season, reaching the Canadian Open final and the US Open semifinals. However, her 2026 season hasn’t gotten off to the best start, as she was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open due to an abdominal injury and recently lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open.
MORE: Naomi Osaka ‘Overwhelmed With Love’ by Daughter Shai’s Post-Match Message
Naomi Osaka Sheds Light On Clay Season Plans
During the press conference, Osaka disclosed that she had been battling a back injury over the past week, joking, “Your girl’s getting old out here.” She also outlined her plans for the upcoming clay season, confirming that she will skip the WTA 500 Charleston Open.
The former World No. 1 expressed hope of returning to action at the Madrid Open, with plans to compete at the Italian Open in the lead-up to the French Open.
“I’m not going to play Charleston. I hope I can play Madrid, Rome and then obviously the French Open,” she said.
With the WTA 1000 event in Madrid scheduled to begin on April 21, Naomi Osaka will have the opportunity to rest and enjoy quality time with her daughter before getting back to the tour.
