Naomi Osaka laments 'postpartum'-like body issues amid tennis struggles a year after childbirth

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Women's tennis star Naomi Osaka lost in the qualifying round of the Cincinnati Open Monday, but she said that wasn't her biggest issue. 

The 26-year-old star opened up about physical issues she has been dealing with in an Instagram post on Tuesday, saying it feels similar to being postpartum.

"My biggest issue currently isn’t losses though, my biggest issue is that I don’t feel like I’m in my body," Osaka wrote. "The only feeling I could liken myself now to being postpartum. That scares me because I've been playing tennis since I was three, the tennis racquet should feel like an extension of my hand. I don't understand why everything has to feel almost brand new again." 

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Naomi Osaka of Japan walks off the court after losing to Elise Mertens of Belgium at the National Bank Open at Sobeys Stadium Aug. 8, 2024, in Toronto. (Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Osaka gave birth to her first child over a year ago on July 12. Her daughter, Shai, was born to her and her boyfriend, rapper Cordae. She didn't return to tennis again until January, when she lost in the first round of the 2024 Australian Open to Caroline Garcia. Since then, she's lost in the second round at the French Open and Wimbledon, then lost in the first round of women's singles at the Paris Olympics to Germany's Angelique Kerber. 

"It’s a strange feeling, missing balls I shouldn’t miss, hitting balls softer than I remember I used to. I try to tell myself, ‘It’s fine you’re doing great. Just get through this one and keep pushing,’ mentally it's really draining though. Internally, I hear myself screaming 'what the hell is