Naomi Osaka Talks ‘Anxiety’ After Revealing Tennis Hiatus Wish

Naomi Osaka is opening up after a rough stretch both on and off the court.

Following her early exit from the French Open, the tennis star posted a photo showing painful hand blisters and hinted at taking a break from the sport entirely.

This all comes just months after Naomi Osaka confirmed her breakup with rapper Cordae, her partner since 2019, and the father of their daughter, Shai, born in July 2023.

Osaka did not hold back this week, giving fans a raw look at the toll tennis is taking on her, physically and mentally. The tennis pro posted a photo of her beat-up hands-on Thursday, revealing painful blisters and scabs on her knuckles.

In her Instagram Story, she added a caption that read, “I genuinely cannot bend these fingers all the way. Lol.” TMZ noted the injuries have been bothering her since the Italian Open, thanks to the wear and tear of clay courts.

Later that day, she shared another image showing herself back on a court despite saying she wanted time off. “Me: I’m sick of this. I’m gonna take a break for a while,” she wrote above the photo, before joking, “Me a day after my match because I have anxiety if I don’t work out.”

Osaka’s honest posts come just days after her first-round exit from the French Open.

Osaka had a rough exit from the French Open and an even tougher time coping with it afterward, emotionally breaking down and worrying she would be fined after dropping an F-bomb in her post-match interview.

She broke down in tears after losing to Paula Badosa in the first round. Osaka had taken an early lead but could not hold on, ultimately falling 6-7 (1-7), 6-1, 6-4.

Her frustration boiled over during her post-match press conference, where she admitted she was afraid of letting down those around her, especially her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.

The Blast reported that Osaka openly questioned her own performance compared to the high standards of her coach, saying, “He goes from working with, like, the greatest player ever to, like, What the f-ck this is? You know what I mean?”

She quickly apologized for the language, adding, “I hope I don’t get fined.”

Osaka appeared to be going through some challenges before arriving at the Open, especially after announcing her split from longtime boyfriend Cordae earlier this year.

She shared the news with her followers in a now-expired Instagram Story. The message read, “Hi everyone, just wanted to say that Cordae and I are no longer in a relationship.” The Blast noted that she made sure to shut down any speculation of drama, writing:

“No bad blood at all, he’s a great person and an awesome dad. Honestly, really glad our paths crossed because my daughter is my biggest blessing, and I was able to grow a lot from our experiences together.”

The breakup must have come as a surprise, especially after the two were spotted leaving Jamie Foxx’s birthday party a month before looking happy and close. At the time, Osaka wore a red mini dress under a jacket, while Cordae kept things casual in all black.

The mother-of-one quietly addressed rumors about expecting a second child before confirming her split from Cordae. The Blast shared that a fan had congratulated Osaka on a supposed pregnancy, wishing her many more children. 

However, she responded with a calm but clear message: she was not pregnant, and if she were, she would not want multiple children due to the trauma she experienced giving birth. In her words:

“I just wanna say, I’m not preggos, but if I was, I wouldn’t want many more. Because giving birth was traumatic. But thank you, though, for your blessings.”

Lying in bed during the video, Osaka’s honest reply won praise from fans and other mothers who understood her struggles with childbirth.

Just a month after welcoming her baby girl in July 2023, Osaka was already back at it. The news outlet noted that, despite labeling childbirth “traumatic,” the star athlete wasted no time getting back into shape, posting a series of Instagram photos and videos of her rigorous workouts.

In one striking image, Osaka showcased her athletic physique, clearly far removed from her postpartum days, wearing a sporty outfit that accentuated her flat stomach.

But her comeback was not easy. A video showed her struggling to lift a heavy fitness tank with her trainer standing on it, followed by clips of her sprinting downhill, playfully telling her coach she hated him while catching her breath.

Whether or not she takes a full break, Naomi Osaka’s message is clear:she is willing to push through pain, both physical and emotional.