Naomi Osaka opens up on feeling ‘ashamed’ for taking psychological well being break in 2021, says she has tennis ‘itch’
Naomi Osaka has opened up on how she felt “ashamed’ for taking a break from tennis in 2021 to handle her psychological well being, however now says she is stronger and has the “itch” to play the sport.
Osaka, a four-time main champion, didn’t have a classic 2022, enjoying simply 25 matches and profitable solely 14 of them.
She misplaced within the first spherical of each the US and the French Opens, and suffered an harm that brought on her withdrawal from Wimbledon.
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However she is on the entry record for the forthcoming Australian Open, and whereas showing on The Late Present, took a second to replicate on how far she has come off the court docket.
She mentioned: “I believe for me, I’ve simply all the time been taught to type of like stick it out or work by way of it, and I believe that is a really useful lesson as a result of it has gotten me by way of numerous issues in life.
“However there was only a level the place I assumed to myself like ‘why?’, you already know. And never in a destructive means, but when I’m feeling this fashion, why would I maintain pushing by way of it, once I can confront it and repair it after which proceed on my journey?
“I used to be type of huddled up in my home for some time after that entire factor occurred [following Roland Garros in 2021].
“However then, I went to the Olympics [in Tokyo] and there have been so many athletes that got here as much as me and I used to be so shocked and I used to be so honoured as a result of these are folks that I watch on TV and I like, I felt actually grateful and felt actually supported.”
Opening up on how she arrived on the determination to take her break from the sport, Osaka revealed – in a separate interview with Good Morning America – that she had initially felt emotions of disgrace.
Naomi Osaka of Japan in motion towards Kaia Kanepi of Estonia throughout her first spherical match on Day 4 of the Nationwide Financial institution Open, a part of the Hologic WTA Tour, at Sobeys Stadium on August 09, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario.
Picture credit score: Eurosport
She mentioned: “For me, I felt prefer it was essential, however I type of felt ashamed in that second as a result of as an athlete you are type of instructed to be robust and push by way of every thing, however I believe I discovered that it is higher to re-group and alter the sentiments you’ve got in that second and you’ll come again stronger.
“I would not have needed it another means [taking the break] as a result of I discovered lots throughout that point.”
Osaka did re-affirm her dedication to tennis, regardless of enterprise various off-court pursuits over the previous yr.
The 25-year-old added: “For me, I really feel like I am a really curious individual, so I’ve actually been grateful to have been given all these avenues to discover, so I am positively trying ahead to doing numerous stuff, however I’m a tennis participant, so, if I do not play tennis for too lengthy, I get an itch.”
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