Naomi Osaka prepares for US Open while balancing motherhood and professional tennis

Naomi Osaka returns to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center this week for the 2026 US Open. The four-time Grand Slam champion, who has a three-year-old daughter named Shai, recently described her tennis career as a side hustle compared to her responsibilities as a mother. Osaka previously considered retirement after giving birth in 2023 but chose to continue competing to serve as an inspiration for her daughter. The 28-year-old withdrew from the Cincinnati Open earlier this month due to fatigue but expressed comfort playing on the hard courts in New York. She is scheduled to face Anastasia Zakharova in the first round of the tournament on August 31.

• 8:41 PMYahoo Sports — Naomi Osaka Calls Tennis Her ‘Side Hustle’ as She Opens Up About Being a Mom to 3-Year-Old Daughter Shai