Naomi Osaka has said she does not intend to continue competing if she frequently loses in first round matches after suffering a disappointing 7-5, 6-4 defeat to Australia\u2019s Talia Gibson in her opening match of the Miami Open.<\/p>\n
Osaka, who received a first-round bye as the 16th seed in Miami, moved sluggishly in an error-strewn performance and was outplayed by the talented 21-year-old Gibson, who will play Iva Jovic in the next round.<\/p>\n
A question on Osaka\u2019s plans for the upcoming clay court season prompted the 28-year-old to reflect on the difficulties of juggling motherhood with her goals as a professional tennis player. Osaka, who said she would play an abbreviated clay season starting at the Madrid Open, is not sure if she can be the best mother possible while pursuing those goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like this also is a dilemma for me,\u201d Osaka told reporters.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, I would love to play, but like I said last year \u2026 for me, my daughter is very important, and I want to be a mom. I want to be the best mom I can, but sometimes I feel like I know what I have to do to become a really good player, and it\u2019s very difficult. I\u2019m not going to play Charleston. I hope I can play Madrid, Rome and then obviously the French Open.\u201d<\/p>\n
Osaka couldn\u2019t handle Gibson\u2019s searing form as she became the Australian qualifier\u2019s fourth top-20 victim in the space of three weeks after Gibson beat Ekaterina Alexandrova, Clara Tauson and Jasmine Paolini at Indian Wells.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was able to draw on some experiences from Indian Wells to stay calm,\u201d Gibson said. \u201cIt\u2019s been really cool to see what I am capable of, and it\u2019s really exciting for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Talia Gibson celebrates match point in her win against Naomi Osaka. Photograph: Al Bello\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Things have been challenging for Osaka since returning to competition in 2024 soon after giving birth to her daughter, Shai. She seemed to take a significant step forward at the end of last year, reaching the US Open semi-finals and the final of the Canada Open in Montreal.<\/p>\n
Osaka\u2019s progress has also been hampered by injuries. She was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open after a relapse of her chronic abdominal injury, which she says is connected to her pregnancy. Osaka said she has been struggling with a back injury over the past week, which she joked was due to old age. \u201cYour girl\u2019s getting old out here,\u201d she said, laughing.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, like I said last year, I\u2019m not going to stay on tour if I\u2019m losing in the first round,\u201d Osaka added. \u201cI\u2019d rather just be a great mom and be there for my daughter. Because for me, I want to win titles and I want to be the best player I can, but if I have to sacrifice having a lot of time with my daughter, I\u2019d rather not do it.\u201d<\/p>\n