Former 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert thinks Naomi Osaka is going to be “an awesome mom.” Osaka, 25, announced this week she is expecting her first child. Ever since going public about her battle with depression and anxiety during the 2021 French Open, Osaka hasn’t really played that much and also hasn’t won any titles since the 2021 Australian Open.
Evert, who has three sons, believes Osaka will benefit from motherhood in many ways and it will probably do wonders for the Japanese’s mental health.
Evert happy for Osaka
“I think it’s great news and I think she’s going to be a great mum.
Naomi has shown us so much compassion and kindness during her career that I think that’s going to translate that into caring for another human being, I think she’s going to be an awesome mum. I think it’s going to be very freeing for her, in the sense that she can now focus on a human being that is more important than anything else in the world.
And she’s not just focusing on tennis, the pressures, the expectations, all the challenges that she faced before, the anxiety, I think having a child is the most freeing and the most loving act that can happen to you. It’s going to be very healthy and almost healing for her.
I’m really happy for her because I think it’s meant to be. I think everything happens for a reason, and it just takes all of the pressure off her and it takes all of the attention off her,” Evert told Eurosport. Last year, Osaka appeared in a total of 11 tournaments.
After Osaka withdrew from the Australian Open, some started fearing her career was nearing an end. But then, Osaka took to social media to announce that she is expecting her first child. In her social media post, Osaka indicated she plans to return to the Australian Open in 2024. Osaka will likely miss the entire 2023 season and return to action at the start of the 2024 season.
