- Naomi Osaka says motherhood has reshaped her mindset and priorities while she readies for the United Cup in Perth.
- Osaka will open her 2026 season in Group E vs Maria Sakkari (Jan. 2) and Emma Raducanu (Jan. 4).
- Maria Sakkari is focused on a fresh start after injury setbacks; Solana Sierra and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro are rising names to watch.
H2: Osaka on parenting and priorities
Naomi Osaka spent much of her offseason at home with her daughter, Shai, and she says parenthood has changed how she approaches tennis. Osaka described seeing Belinda Bencic with her one-year-old on court as a touching reminder of her own family life.
“It’s definitely really tough,” Osaka said about juggling practice and parenting. “You try to be there for her all the time. Obviously there are moments where you have to practice or have to do something. I hope that I’m managing or juggling it well.”
Since giving birth in July 2023, Osaka says she has eased up on self-criticism. Where she once measured herself by wins and losses, she now treats each day as a new chance to improve and acknowledges that her primary role is being a mom.
H3: Schedule — tough opening tests
Playing in Group E for Japan, Osaka opens her 2026 campaign against Maria Sakkari on Jan. 2, then faces Emma Raducanu on Jan. 4. Both opponents are Grand Slam champions and present contrasting challenges: Sakkari with aggressive baseline power and Raducanu with all-court variety.
H3: Sakkari aiming to climb back
Maria Sakkari arrives in Perth after a turbulent 2024-25 stretch that included shoulder rehab and a drop in ranking to No. 92 last May. She rallied in 2025 to climb near the top 50 and says this offseason gave her time to recover and refine her game.
“It was a very, very tough season last year,” Sakkari said. “I feel like I learned a lot. I had five weeks of very good practice and time to put in a lot of work. The results will show how good of a work we did put [in].”
Sakkari holds a 3-2 head-to-head lead over Osaka from earlier meetings, though they haven’t played since 2021.
H3: Rising contenders — Sierra and Bouzas Maneiro
Argentina’s Solana Sierra and Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro both made major gains in 2025. Sierra rose from outside the top 150 to No. 66, won a WTA 125 and recorded a surprise Wimbledon run that boosted her confidence. Bouzas Maneiro reached a career-high No. 41 after deep runs at Wimbledon and the National Bank Open.
Both will face World No. 3 Coco Gauff in Group A when their nations meet — a high-profile test that could accelerate their development.
H2: The United Cup’s appeal
Players praised the team format and the team spirit that the United Cup fosters early in the season. Osaka said she’s long wanted to play in the event and withdrew from the ASB Classic to represent Japan in the tournament’s debut for the country.
The United Cup offers head‑to‑head matches against top opponents right away — a challenge Osaka described as a privilege and a motivating way to begin the year.
Social links:
- The top rankings storylines and questions ahead of the Australian swing: https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4423669/the-top-rankings-storylines-and-questions-ahead-of-the-australian-swing
- United Cup 2026: Format, schedule, groups and everything you need to know: https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4424296/united-cup-2026-411-format-schedule-groups-prize-money-and-everything-you-need-to-know
- United Cup origins: Revisiting three years of momentum and must-watch moments: https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4425663/united-cup-origins-revisiting-three-years-of-momentum-and-must-watch-moments
Image Referance: https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4426385/united-cup-2026-perth-media-day-1-naomi-osakas-honest-view-of-balancing-parenthood-tennis-sakkari-bouzas-maneiro-sierra
