"I'm stuck in my ways": Naomi Osaka reveals why she is hesitant about daughter Shai pursuing a career in professional tennis

Naomi Osaka is thinking about more than her own return to the US Open this year. The two-time champion is also watching her daughter, Shai, grow up around a sport that has shaped much of her life. While Osaka sees clear benefits in tennis, she is not sure she would want her daughter to follow the same demanding path and become a professional player.Naomi Osaka explains why she is unsure about Shai becoming a tennis proOsaka's hesitation is not rooted in a dislike of tennis. In fact, she credits sport with helping shape who she is today. For children, she believes the game can offer lessons that extend well beyond competition, from discipline to confidence and the ability to handle pressure.Still, professional tennis comes with a unique level of commitment. The travel, constant competition and expectations can turn a childhood activity into a full-time pursuit. Osaka appears keen to let Shai discover the sport on her own terms rather than deciding her future for her."It's not that I'm anti-tennis. I feel like it teaches you a lot, and I think, you know, there's a lot of characteristics that I have that I, like, that I know I gained through the sport. And I think sports in general is really good for kids. It teaches, like, discipline and all those other things," Osaka said.For now, Shai's relationship with tennis is wonderfully simple. She enjoys swinging her miniature racket, but she has yet to step onto a proper tennis court. Osaka knows that could change as her daughter gets older."But I feel, like, for tennis I don't know, maybe I'm stuck in my ways, but I think it can either go one of two ways. Like, she'd really want to play professionally or maybe not, you know? And I think those are, like, things that I can't control, but she loves swinging her little mini racket around. And she actually hasn't been on a real court yet. So, maybe I'll update you in a couple of years."Naomi Osaka opens up on US Open mixed doubles withdrawalMotherhood was not the only personal subject Osaka addressed before beginning her US Open campaign. She also explained her decision to withdraw from the mixed doubles competition, where she had been expected to team up with fellow Japanese player Kei Nishikori.The timing became a major concern. Nishikori was competing in qualifying, leaving Osaka with limited time to prepare for a partnership while managing an already packed week before the main tournament."I think, you know, he was playing qualies, which is a whole different thing, but, I don't know, it just didn't feel like we had enough time, and I had the busiest week ever leading into this US Open, and it didn't really feel smart, I think," Osaka said.She acknowledged how special the opportunity would have been, particularly given her long-standing connection to Japanese tennis."And obviously, like, it would have been my dream. Like, I don't know, as a kid, you can only dream of doing things like this, but it sucked that we didn't have enough time to do it."Osaka now turns her attention to singles. The four-time Grand Slam champion has already won the US Open twice, lifting the trophy in 2018 and 2020. Her latest campaign begins against Anastasia Zakharova at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with another chance to add a new chapter to her New York story.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.