“You have to be really mentally strong to play tennis,” declared Naomi Osaka in her 2021 Netflix docuseries. This sentiment rings especially true for trailblazers like Osaka who became the first Asian woman to reach the world number one ranking at just 20. As she explained, “because [it] is a solo sport, you’re kind of by yourself.” Osaka’s subsequent openness about her struggles with anxiety and depression in May 2021 ignited crucial conversations about mental health in sports, particularly for athletes of color, and challenged harmful expectations of constant invincibility. It was a pivotal moment, marking Osaka’s pledge to never step back from her truth.
The Japanese ace Naomi Osaka made a surprising exit from tennis in 2021 despite being the 3rd seed and winning the Australian Open that year. After a break for pregnancy, she returned in January 2024 but has struggled with consistency and injuries. Still, her resilience shone through, especially after setbacks in Auckland and Melbourne, where abdominal issues halted her runs. What truly stood out, however, was her unwavering commitment to mental health advocacy amidst personal and professional hurdles.
“I feel like it’s really important to speak about mental health, because at least for me, when I’m down, I usually feel like I’m alone and I’m the only person that feels in that specific way. But then you realize that there’s other people that feel the same, and you don’t feel so isolated anymore. So I think it’s important for people to keep talking about it, treat it more like physical health. I think people treat physical health a lot better than mental health,” Osaka said in an interview with CNN.
Adding to her narrative of resilience, she addressed her critics directly on Friday. Taking to her X account, she posted, “I laugh every time someone calls me mentally weak lol.”
I laugh every time someone calls me mentally weak lol
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) April 18, 2025
In 2021, Naomi Osaka, who was the 2nd seed at the time, drew significant attention when she opted to forgo press conferences at the French Open. Her decision stemmed from a concern about the media’s insufficient consideration for athletes’ mental well-being. Following a $15,000 fine and warnings of potential suspension from future Grand Slam tournaments, Osaka made the difficult choice to withdraw from the competition.
In a statement on Twitter, the 23-year-old explained, “This isn’t a situation I ever imagined or intended when I posted a few days ago. I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris. She further added, “I never wanted to be a distraction,” and revealed that she had “suffered long bouts of depression since the U.S. Open in 2018” and experienced “huge waves of anxiety before” participating in press conferences.
The very next year, Osaka teamed up with ‘Modern Health’, a global workplace mental health platform. Announced during Mental Health Awareness Month in the US, their partnership aimed to destigmatize mental health, particularly among younger generations and marginalized communities, while also working to expand and diversify access to crucial mental health care and support.
This year, Osaka has become the executive producer of Julie Keeps Quiet, a Belgian arthouse film that premiered at Cannes the previous year and was subsequently Belgium’s entry for this year’s Academy Awards. As Osaka put it in an interview with Ben Rothenberg, the movie “draws attention to things that people can’t really see in the spotlight. And not insinuating anything, but I feel like it really humanizes the world of tennis, in a way.”
And while Naomi Osaka has become a ‘beacon of inspiration’ for mental health advocacy in recent years, her focus now shifts to the highly anticipated Madrid Open.
Naomi Osaka sets her sights on the upcoming European clay-court season
Despite a less-than-ideal start to her new season, Naomi Osaka is gearing up for a turnaround during the European clay-court swing, starting with the Masters event in Madrid. Despite having a 13-9 record for this season including walkovers in ASB Classic and Australian Open, the 4-time Grand Slam champion is actively chasing her rhythm as she aims for a deep run in the Spanish capital, where she’s making her 6th tournament appearance.
Osaka recently gave fans a glimpse of her training on IG, where she was seen working on her forehands, sharpening her serve, and putting in cardio reps, signaling her serious intent to challenge on the red dirt. She captioned the post with, “That’s a wrap on week 1 of clay,” adding a touch of her signature charm to the grind.
Last year in the Madrid Open, Osaka couldn’t quite meet expectations. After a solid 6-4, 6-4 win over Greet Minnen, Liudmila Samsonova edged her out in a tightly contested 3-set battle. This time, however, with Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou in her corner, she’s hoping to flip the script.
With renewed motivation and a clearer mental approach, the big question remains: can Naomi Osaka find her groove and truly shine on the clay of Madrid? What do you think?
The post Mental Health Advocate Naomi Osaka Dishes Out Perfect Response to Naysayers in a Powerful Message: ‘I Laugh Every Time’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.