Naomi Osaka will begin her 2026 WTA Tour season this week at the United Cup in Australia. This is another important chapter in her ongoing comeback to elite tennis. The four-time Grand Slam champion represents Japan at the mixed-team event and has one match scheduled today, which is a high-profile group-stage clash against Maria Sakkari of Greece.
A fresh start after a promising 2025 revival
Osaka enters the new season on the back of a significantly improved second half of 2025, a period that hinted strongly at a return to her best form. After ending her coaching partnership with Patrick Mouratoglou and appointing Tomasz Wiktorowski, the former world No. 1 enjoyed her most consistent run in years.
She reached the final of the Canadian Open and followed it up with a semifinal appearance at the US Open, her deepest Grand Slam run since 2021. The results reinforced the sense that Osaka, once again, is a genuine force at the top level of the women’s game.
However, her season ended prematurely in October when she withdrew from the Japan Open ahead of her quarterfinal due to a leg injury. While disappointing, the early finish offered her something she hadn’t had in years: time.
What led Osaka to take a long season off?
Speaking ahead of the United Cup, Osaka reflected on how the extended off-season helped her reset both physically and emotionally.
“Yeah, I mean, I think for me, I prioritised spending a lot of time with my daughter, so I was really glad that I was able to do that,” she told Tennis Gazette
“Of course, [I needed to] recover, because I do think the season was really long, even though I didn’t play the entire thing.”
The time away from competition appears to have left her refreshed and optimistic heading into 2026.
“Yeah, I think my form right now hopefully is good. I guess I’ll see what happens in the matches that I have to play, but overall, I’m pretty happy with how my year shaped up. I’m excited for this, I guess, upcoming year, too,” added Osaka, whose last tour-level title came at the 2021 Australian Open.
While Osaka’s return to form has been one of the most compelling storylines on tour, she has been equally open about the challenges of balancing professional tennis with motherhood.
Balancing comeback tennis and motherhood
When asked about managing life on the WTA Tour alongside raising her daughter, Osaka was candid about the difficulties she continues to face. “I would say it’s definitely really tough,” she told The Tennis Gazette.
“This off-season was quite difficult for me, as well, just because you try to be there for her all the time, and obviously, there are moments where you have to practice, or you have to do something. It is really difficult.” Osaka remains hopeful that she is finding the right balance.
“I hope that I’m managing it or I’m juggling it well. I also hope there’s going to come a time that she understands why I did the things that I did.”
Japan have been drawn alongside Great Britain and Greece in Group E at this year’s United Cup, which is being staged across Perth and Sydney. The tournament, now in its fourth edition, was won by the United States last year and serves as an important warm-up ahead of the Australian Open.
For Osaka, the United Cup is more than just a season opener, it is a chance to build momentum, test her form against top opponents, and continue the steady climb back toward the top of women’s tennis.
