Naomi Osaka hints at retiring if results continue to disappoint in 2025

Naomi Osaka has hinted she could retire from tennis in 2025 if results don’t improve.

At the Australian Open this year it will be exactly a year since Osaka returned to tennis and in the first year the former world No. 1 made some good progress.

Osaka had match points against Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros and had some decent runs in tournaments where she ended the year at 58 in the world rankings.

Now with Patrick Mouratoglou at her side, Osaka is aiming to climb even further up the rankings as she aims for a Grand Slam berth this year.

Looking back on 2024, Osaka admitted that her recent results humbled her as she hopes for better performances in 2025. “I think 2024 has humbled me, but I also feel like I’ve grown a lot.” Osaka told the Associated Press.

“I worked much harder than I ever have before. I guess it was very painful not getting the results I wanted, but I feel like I’m growing and learning and I’m really looking forward to this year (2025).

“I played really good games. People still talk to me about my Iga (Swiatek) match at the French Open (lost 7-6, 1-6, 7-5). That’s why I’m glad that I was able to give people memories too. Even though I was injured in Beijing, my last tournament, I’m pretty optimistic about the outcome of this match (against Coco Gauff) and I’m looking forward to playing on hard court again.”

Osaka is a two-time Australian Open champion and hopes to win a third title in Melbourne if she can find her old form.

However, failure to improve in 2025 could have serious consequences for Osaka’s career, including retirement, as Osaka hinted in her press conference in Auckland. “I don’t think I’m the type of player to hang around” Osaka told reporters, startlingly.

“I have a lot of respect for all the players on tour, but at the point in my life that I’m at right now, unless I’m above a certain rank, I don’t see myself playing for a while. I would rather spend time with my daughter when I’m not where I should be and where I feel like I can be.”

Before competing at the Australian Open, Osaka will compete in Auckland this week, where her first-round match will be against world number 221 Lina Glushko.