Naomi Osaka is back at Roland Garros , a place that marked such a significant moment in her life - a moment of vulnerability, yes, and, in a way, of triumph, even if not in a traditional, "What was the score?" sense.
Osaka spent time away from tennis in recent years, first for mental health breaks , then because she became a mother. At the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, she was supposed to be one of the big stars in her native Japan and lit the cauldron , but the results on the court were not what she wanted.
Now she has returned to the tour and is returning to the Summer Games . She'll be in action against three-time major champion Angelique Kerber when tennis matches begin Saturday at the same site that marked such a pivotal place in Osaka's career: It was at the 2021 French Open, contested on the clay courts used for these Olympics, that she first mentioned her anxiety and depression - topics rarely addressed publicly at the time by sports stars or, frankly, anyone in any walk of life - and withdrew from the tournament.
"I felt nervous, kind of scared" at the 2022 French Open, Osaka said. "And a little sad, because I always feel, like, in moments like this, I'm not sure if people are judging me for that moment."
But then, she explained, "I kind of realized that people's memories are very short. And I hope that when they look at me, that's not the first thing they think about. So it's probably my mind constantly going over those memories and thinking the worst. I'm kind of approaching it with my best foot forward. And I feel like a different person, so hopefully those experiences will never be relived."
