Naomi Osaka “It’s O.K. to not be O.K.”

Naomi Osaka is one of the greatest tennis players of her generation. A four-time Grand Slam champion, she has broken barriers in both Japanese sports and women’s tennis. However, despite her incredible success, Osaka has also faced significant mental health struggles.

Following her statement victory over Serena Williams in the 2018 U.S. Open, Osaka experienced “long bouts of depression,” a battle she later revealed was triggered by the overwhelming pressure and boos from the crowd as she left the court. Despite struggling internally, she continued competing at the highest level. “I had a hard time coping with that,” she admitted.

Nearly three years later, in May 2021, Osaka made the difficult decision to withdraw from the French Open, citing her mental health. A month later, she also pulled out of Wimbledon, prioritizing her well-being over competition. She remained away from tennis until making her return at the Tokyo Olympics on July 23, 2021.

Osaka’s Mental Health Advocacy

In her withdrawal statement from the French Open, Osaka openly discussed her struggles:

"The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018, and I have had a really hard time coping with that."

She also shared that post-match press conferences triggered her anxiety, which became a major point of contention when she was fined for skipping media obligations.

During her two-month absence, Osaka penned a powerful essay for TIME Magazine titled “It’s O.K. Not to Be O.K.,” where she reflected on her mental health battles, media scrutiny, and the pressures of being an athlete.

She challenged the expectation that athletes must always be available for press obligations, saying:

“Perhaps we should give athletes the right to take a mental break from media scrutiny on a rare occasion without being subject to strict sanctions.”

Osaka compared it to regular workers being allowed personal days, explaining that she felt pressured to disclose her struggles because many in the media didn’t believe her.

She ended her essay with a powerful message:

"I do hope that people can relate and understand it’s O.K. to not be O.K., and it’s O.K. to talk about it. There are people who can help, and there is usually light at the end of any tunnel."

She also revealed that Michael Phelps (1/25/25 article), who has been open about his own mental health struggles, encouraged her. She said,

“By speaking up, I may have saved a life. If that’s true, then it was all worth it.”

Continued Advocacy and Return to Tennis

Osaka returned to competition at the Tokyo Olympics, representing Japan. However, in May 2022, she once again stepped away from tennis, explaining:

“I feel like I’m a little bit at a standstill. I’m trying to find ways to enjoy the game again.”

Beyond her tennis career, Osaka has remained deeply involved in mental health advocacy. In 2022, she launched "Hana Kuma", a media company dedicated to telling stories about mental health, social issues, and personal growth.

Her journey has shown that even the world’s best athletes are not immune to mental health struggles. Osaka’s openness has helped break the stigma surrounding mental well-being in sports, inspiring athletes across all levels to prioritize their mental health just as much as their physical performance.

By using her platform to push for change, Naomi Osaka is proving that her greatest impact may go far beyond the tennis court.

Naomi Osaka, Alan Lee Photosport via AP