Naomi Osaka Makes U.S. Open Return. But Not for Tennis.

Naomi Osaka didn’t carry any rackets together with her when she arrived on the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Wednesday afternoon. Osaka had no plans to play tennis.

“For me, coming back here, it means a lot,” Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, stated. “It’s like seeing an old friend that you haven’t seen in a long time.”

Osaka was talking in the principle news convention room on Wednesday inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. She is aware of it properly. It’s the place she bought to discipline questions from reporters on a few of her greatest events, like her U.S. Open championships in 2018 and 2020. It’s additionally the place she has been throughout low moments, together with a first-round exit finally 12 months’s match.

“There were some tears shed,” Osaka stated in regards to the room. “A lot.”

On Wednesday, Osaka had returned for a panel with Michael Phelps, the American swimmer who stands as probably the most adorned Olympian ever; Dr. Vivek Murthy, the surgeon common; and Dr. Brian Hainline, the chief medical officer of the N.C.A.A. and the chairman of the United States Tennis Association board.

The matter of the panel, psychological well being and sports activities, is one which Osaka has spoken about usually since she cited psychological well being considerations in her withdrawal from the French Open in 2021. Her exit then led to a break from tennis.

Osaka, who turned professional in 2013 as a youngster and got here to be seen because the inheritor obvious to Serena Williams, is away from tennis now, too. In January she introduced she was pregnant however deliberate to play within the 2024 Australian Open. She gave start to her daughter in July, calling it on Instagram “a cool little intermission.”

On Wednesday, Osaka, 25, stated she had loads of time to replicate throughout her most up-to-date go away from the game.

“It definitely made me appreciate a lot of things that I took for granted,” she stated.

Osaka didn’t say when she deliberate to return to tennis throughout the panel, however she later instructed ESPN in an interview that she had designs on enjoying in 2024, including that she has been coaching and ought to be hitting balls quickly.

Speaking again in that room, Osaka alluded to the thought of getting a protracted profession.

“I just remember watching the Australian Open and being very devastated because I’ve never missed an Australian Open,” Osaka stated. But whereas watching, Osaka stated, she considered how late Serena and Venus Williams performed into their careers.

Serena Williams, who retired finally 12 months’s U.S. Open, performed till she was 40. Venus Williams, 43, performed at this 12 months’s match, shedding within the first spherical of singles.

“I was thinking I probably no way will ever play at their age,” Osaka stated. “But sitting here, I’m like, you know what? I might do that.”

Osaka stated being pregnant gave her a number of time to assume, and that she felt remoted at instances. She needed to pressure herself to ask for assist.

“I actually felt lonely during my pregnancy just because I felt like I wasn’t able to do a lot of things,” she stated.

She added: “Normally I’m thinking, ‘If I’m going to be an independent woman, then I’m not going to ask anyone for help. Whenever something happens, just take it on the chin.’ But then I got to a place where I needed to ask for help.”

For many years, many athletes have been reluctant to share their struggles with their psychological well being. It’s particularly the case for professionals, whose jobs require them to push their our bodies to carry out on the highest stage. But in recent times, athletes have regularly turn out to be extra open about discussing psychological well being. Besides Osaka, they embody the gymnast Simone Biles, the basketball star Kevin Love, and, in tennis, Amanda Anisimova, the younger American as soon as ranked within the high 25 who in May cited psychological well being considerations in deciding to step away from the game.

Among Olympians, Phelps has additionally led a push to talk out on psychological well being.

Phelps, who has additionally confronted psychological well being points, stated that, like for Osaka, working by way of these issues required realizing he needed to attain out and ask for assist.

“I learned that I couldn’t do it all by myself,” Phelps stated.

After successful six gold medals on the 2004 Athens Games, Phelps entered what he described as a “post-Olympics depression.” But as an alternative of reaching out to somebody for assist, Phelps stated, he compartmentalized his points by swimming and coaching extra.

It wasn’t till about 2014, Phelps stated, when he hit a “breaking point.”

“I decided that something had to change,” he stated. “So for me, I had to become vulnerable for the first time in my life.

While Osaka didn’t say exactly when she’ll play again, when she returns the difficulties of life on tour will follow, such as time away from family and the pressure of competing in an individualistic sport. But this time, Osaka said she will be more comfortable seeking help when she needs it.

Osaka said that she had two friends she counts on when she is dealing with loneliness.

“I know I can reach out to them at any time, and I think it’s really important,” she stated. “You’re not alone in anything.”