Tennis champion Naomi Osaka has disclosed her struggle with severe postpartum depression after welcoming daughter Shai in 2023.
The 27-year-old Japanese player made these revelations in her latest documentary "Naomi Osaka: The Second Set," which premiered on streaming over the weekend.
Despite being forewarned about postpartum challenges by numerous people before giving birth, the tennis star believed her awareness would somehow shield her from experiencing the symptoms herself.
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The four-time Grand Slam winner shared her child with former partner, rapper Cordae.
In the documentary, Osaka admitted experiencing "extremely bad postpartum [depression]" and acknowledged she "didn't know how to deal with it that well."
The tennis star emphasised that she would never want her daughter to perceive her birth as anything other than "the biggest gift I have ever received."
However, Osaka described the profound impact the condition had on her daily existence during those initial months of motherhood.
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Naomi Osaka revealed she suffered from post-partum depression after the birth of her child
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"During those early months, I felt like a shell of myself at all moments of the day," she revealed in the documentary.
The former world number one explained how her sense of identity became completely lost during this period.
"I no longer knew who I was anymore," Osaka continued.
She described feeling isolated whilst others around her seemed to continue with their lives normally, stating: "It felt like everyone else had moved on and they were living in colour. Meanwhile, my world was stuck in grey."
The former world number one has encountered significant difficulties since returning to professional tennis following her maternity break.
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Naomi Osaka has been struggling with her mental health since the birth
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Osaka held the top ranking for 25 weeks beginning in January 2021, but her performances have declined markedly since her comeback to competitive play.
Her emotional fragility became evident during May's French Open, where she broke down in tears following her defeat.
The tennis star expressed feelings of inadequacy regarding her coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who previously worked with Serena Williams.
"As time goes on I feel like I should be doing better," she stated.
"I hate disappointing people. [Mouratoglou] goes from working with, like, the greatest player ever to, like, 'What the f**k is this?'"
Osaka had previously withdrawn from the 2021 French Open, citing "huge waves of anxiety."
Naomi Osaka is a two-time US Open Champion
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Osaka is scheduled to face Belgium's Greet Minnen in her opening round match at this week's US Open tournament.
The 23rd seed will be competing at Flushing Meadows in Queens, New York, where she previously claimed the championship title on two occasions.
Her victories at the US Open came in 2018 and 2020, adding to her Grand Slam collection that also includes Australian Open triumphs in 2019 and 2021.
The tournament represents another opportunity for Osaka to demonstrate her resilience as she continues navigating the challenges of combining elite professional tennis with her responsibilities as a mother to young Shai.