Osaka questions future
Naomi Osaka crashed out of Miami with a loss to Australia’s Talia Gibson and publicly cast doubt on her future in tennis, saying she’d “rather just be a great mom” than continue if she can’t return to winning ways. (theguardian.com)
Naomi Osaka, seeded 16th at the Miami Open, was beaten 7-5, 6-4 by qualifier Talia Gibson in the Round of 64 on 21 March 2026. (wtatennis.com) Gibson, 21, came into Miami as a qualifier ranked around world No. 68 and has strung together a breakout “Sunshine Double” streak that included multiple top-20 scalps and a run to the Indian Wells quarterfinals. ( ) Osaka told reporters she will skip the Charleston Open (week of 28 March) as she trims her clay-court build-up, adding she hopes to target Madrid, Rome and then the French Open instead. (sports.yahoo.com) The 28‑year‑old returned to the WTA Tour in January 2024 after a roughly 15‑month maternity break and went on to reach the US Open semifinals in 2025. (wtatennis.com) Osaka entered Miami with a 2026 match record of 5–2 and ranked inside the top 20 after a strong 2025 that rebuilt her position on tour. (espn.com)
