Overview
- Osaka, speaking after her opening match loss to qualifier Talia Gibson at the Miami Open, said she would not stay on tour if early exits keep coming and that she would rather be a great mom to her daughter, Shai.
- Collins told Tennis Channel the thought of Osaka walking away was heartbreaking and urged her to take a short break to reset rather than retire.
- Osaka revised her schedule by skipping Charleston and aiming to play Madrid, Rome, and the French Open on clay, a surface that has often troubled her.
- Her comments cap a rough start to 2026 that included withdrawing from the Australian Open with an abdominal injury and a later loss to Aryna Sabalenka at Indian Wells, despite a strong 2025 with deep runs in Canada and New York.
- Tennishead and other outlets warned that women’s tennis would lose a major star if she retires, while peers and pundits argued a brief pause could help her balance elite competition with parenting.