Here’s what Naomi Osaka has been up to since her last US Open in 2022

She continues to be an advocate for mental health.

As a public figure, Osaka uses her platform to make a difference — especially when it comes to destigmatizing mental health. For example, her production company Hana Kuma released a video series about mental health last year called I can’t wait to hear from you (which Osaka herself hosted). She also joined Michael Phelps and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy for an open discussion on topics ranging from loneliness to asking for help.

“When I was a kid, I was told to be strong and I was thinking that athletes are supposed to stick it out and that you’re actually weak if you show your emotions,” she shared during the panel. “But then I got to a point where I needed to ask for help…I have a really good group of people around me, so it was just a process of asking.”

In fact, she competed a lot this year.

Osaka’s long-awaited return to professional tennis came in January at the Brisbane International tournament. It was her first time playing since September 2022; she won her opening match but lost in the second round to Karolína Plíšková. “I was very nervous, but it’s really good to be back and surrounded by a good atmosphere,” Osaka said in a post-match press conference.

She continued to compete in WTA tournaments last year, although she didn’t advance as far as she used to. The former world number one only reached the third round at the 2024 Indian Wells and Miami Opens last March. As promised, Osaka also made it to the Australian Open in January, but lost in the first round to Caroline Garcia.

“Of course, I have to tell myself, ‘Hey, six months ago you were pregnant,’” Osaka told reporters about her loss. “There’s a voice in my head saying, ‘Who are you to think you can come back and start winning matches right away?’ But I kind of always hope I get a chance anyway, so I think being cool with myself It’s a fundamental thing I learned during my time abroad.”

In May, she reached the fourth round of the Italian Open, defeating superstars like No. 10-ranked Daria Kasatkina and No. 19-ranked Marta Kostyuk in straight sets before losing to Qinwen Zheng (who, fun fact, won gold at this year’s tournament). Olympics).

Osaka claimed her first victory in a Grand Slam match since 2022.

Earlier this summer, Osaka returned to clay courts at the 2024 French Open, where she earned her first Grand Slam victory since the 2022 Australian Open after defeating Lucia Bronzetti. In the second round, she faced current world number one Iga Świątek, and despite losing, Osaka called the match one of her most “memorable” and “fun” matches.

“I cried when I walked off the court, but then I realized I was watching Iga win this tournament last year when I was pregnant, and it was just my dream to be able to play with her,” Osaka told reporters. “When I think about it like that, I think I’m doing really well. I’m also just trying not to be too hard on myself.”

She also won her first Wimbledon match in six years.

The tennis star hasn’t played on the iconic grass courts since 2019. (Wimbledon was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic; she withdrew in 2021 for personal reasons, skipped 2022 due to an Achilles injury, and was on maternity leave last year.) In July, though, Osaka made her long-awaited return to London.