The Italian Open will begin next week and while most tennis players have already touched down in Rome, Naomi Osaka was spotted checking in at The Mark Hotel in New York City. She’s in NYC to attend the 2026 Met Gala on Monday.
Therefore, after the Met Gala, Osaka is likely to take a flight to Rome so that she can make it in time. This will be interesting, though, because Venus Williams declined the wild card entry for this very reason as she co-chairs the 2026 Met Gala.
Fans pointed to Osaka’s lack of professionalism, as they figured tennis is no longer the Japanese star’s priority.
“The lack of professionalism… How are you going to be in Rome training, catch a flight to NYC, and then head back just to play the tournament. If I were Wiktorski, I wouldn’t tolerate this and I’d leave, and even less so without having any results,” one fan wrote.
“It’s a matter of priorities. There is no indication that she will be back winning grand slams anytime soon so she probably wants to explore her fashion interests,” another added.
“Super disappointed with this one. Clearly shows that tennis is no longer her priority career-wise,” another commented.
“Who gaf about tennis,” one fan reacted.
“Yh r2 exit incoming at Rome,” another wrote
“You’ve got to be fu**ing kidding me UNBELIEVABLE!” another remarked.
Naomi Osaka Opens Up On Balancing Motherhood and Tennis
Naomi Osaka has yet to win a major title in tennis ever since welcoming daughter Shai. The four-time Grand Slam champion is balancing tennis and motherhood, which can be overwhelming at times.
Osaka acknowledged the same during her exclusive interview with People, where she admits it’s “really tough.” Osaka, who was promoting her partnership with OLLY in the interview, likes the society’s changed approach towards seeing motherhood through a different lens. She was saying it with respect to the importance of mental health, given how stressful the job of a mother could get.
“I feel like there’s always something that makes me feel like moms always want to do everything, and I would say that’s a really tough ask that we put on ourselves,” she said. “That’s why I really love this campaign that I’m doing with OLLY. It’s focusing on empowering women to prioritize their mental and physical health.”
Instead of stressing herself to figure out a balance with all the things happening in her life, Osaka believes “everything has its place in my life.”
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