"Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Elina Svitolina would like a word" - Naomi Osaka assuming having a kid meant 'end of career' confuses tennis fans

Naomi Osaka's assumption that having a child signaled the end of a player's career has left tennis fans bewildered, given the numerous players who have successfully made a comeback to the tour after becoming mothers.

In July, Osaka welcomed her first child, a daughter named Shai, with long-time boyfriend and professional rapper Cordae. During a recent appearance on the Mountaintop Conversations podcast, the 25-year-old admitted to harboring the assumption that having a child signified the end of a WTA player's career.

"Actually, there was a lot of pressure I felt for me. For me, I always had the assumption that if you have a kid, it’s basically the end of your career. I don’t really see a lot of women on the tennis tour with kids. They are usually a bit older, and it just seems like a very hard taxing on your body," Naomi Osaka said.

The four-time Grand Slam champion also divulged that despite not initially expecting to return to the tour after giving birth, having a child has deepened her appreciation for the sport.

"I just never really thought if I had a kid, I’d go back on the tour. But I feel like it was a magical moment for me. It just made me think of all the things I love and appreciate and it just made me really want to work hard… I’ve played tennis since I was three and I want to appreciate the time that I can still play," she added.

Several fans were left perplexed by Osaka's comments. One of them questioned why she had made that assumption when players like Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Elina Svitolina, among others, had all made a successful return to the tour after having children.

"Serena, Vika, Svitolina, Clijsters, Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong… they all would like a word… Unless “their careers were over” ??" the fan tweeted.

Another fan highlighted a fallacy in Osaka's comments, pointing out that the former World No. 1 had won her first Grand Slam title by defeating Serena Williams in the 2018 US Open final. Williams was making a comeback at the time, having just given birth to her daughter Olympia.

"Girl won her first slam beating a returning Serena in the USOpen final but thought having kids was a career ender? You legit stood across the net from a returning mother in a grand slam final…," another fan commented.

Here are a few more fan reactions:

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Naomi Osaka hints at comeback after giving birth to her first child

Naomi Osaka fields questions from the media.

Just days after giving birth to her daughter, Naomi Osaka was spotted on the practice courts, presumably training for her comeback to the tour. She also hinted at her return while sharing a picture of her newborn daughter dressed in a tennis-themed onesie.

A fan recently reached out to Osaka through social media and shared their enthusiasm for her return to the tour. In response, the former World No. 1 confirmed that her comeback was already in the works.

"Omw," Osaka tweeted.

Naomi Osaka's eagerness to return to the tour is no surprise given that she had previously opened up about her aim to win eight more Grand Slam titles and clinch the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.