I don't feel like I'm in my body - Osaka

Former world number 1 Naomi Osaka says she does not "feel for illustration I'm successful my body" pursuing her return to tennis aft a maternity break.

Japan's Osaka returned to nan WTA Tour successful January aft nan commencement of her first child, girl Shai, successful July 2023.

Since then, nan four-time Grand Slam champion has struggled to rediscover her champion shape and been incapable to beforehand past nan quarter-finals astatine immoderate tournament.

"My biggest rumor presently isn't losses though, my biggest rumor is that I don't consciousness for illustration I'm successful my body," Osaka, 26, wrote connected Instagram connected Tuesday.

"It's a unusual feeling, missing balls I shouldn't miss, hitting balls softer than I retrieve I utilized to. I effort to show myself, 'It's good you're doing great. Just get done this 1 and support pushing.' Mentally it's really draining through."

Osaka was defeated by American Ashlyn Kreuger successful nan 2nd information of qualifying for nan Cincinnati Open connected Monday.

"I've played a fistful of matches this twelvemonth that I felt for illustration I was myself and I cognize this infinitesimal is astir apt conscionable a mini shape from each nan caller transitions (clay, grass, clay, hard), nevertheless nan only emotion I could liken really I consciousness correct now to is being post-partum," she said.

"That scares maine because I've been playing tennis since I was three, nan racket should consciousness for illustration an hold of my hand."

Despite failing to scope nan 3rd information of a Grand Slam this year, Osaka has shown she tin still compete pinch nan champion players - pushing existent world number 1 Iga Swiatek each nan measurement successful a second-round thriller astatine nan French Open successful May.

However, she said she does not understand "why everything has to consciousness almost marque caller again".

"This should beryllium arsenic elemental arsenic breathing to me, but it's not," she added.

"I genuinely did not springiness myself grace for that truth until conscionable now."

Osaka is group to play astatine nan US Open, wherever she is simply a two-time champion, later this month.