(L-R) Mari Osaka, Naomi Osaka (JPN), September 20, 2017 -tennis : Naomi Osaka(R) her sister Mari Osaka(L) attend the post match interview after the match of the women’s doubles first match of WTA Toray PPO Tennis at Tokyo Japan on September 20, 2017 . (Photo by Motoo Naka/AFLO)
Mari Osaka, the elder sister of four-time major-winner Naomi Osaka, has retired from tennis at the age of 24, explaining “it was a journey which I didn’t enjoy”.
The elder Osaka was ranked 340th in the world, having reached a career-high of 280th in 2018, and last played a singles tournament in January.
She partnered in doubles with her sister Naomi, who is 18 months younger, ranked second in the world and the reigning US and Australian Open champion, at the 2017 Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
“I am retired from playing tennis,” Mari wrote on Instagram.
“It was a journey which I didn’t enjoy ultimately but I’m grateful for all the memories and support I’ve gained and received over the years from the sport.
“I’m moving on now so you can look forward to new fun projects upcoming in the future.”
Mari also plays a role in her younger sister’s career, and last year helped produce a manga character representing Naomi in a magazine aimed at teenage girls.
Mari mainly played on the ITF Pro Circuit but joined her sister in the WTA main draw at the Miami Open in 2019.
“Up until I was 15, she was 6-0ing me, like ridiculous,” Naomi was quoted as saying by the WTA Tour website.
“I don’t know what happened — something clicked in my head — but for sure she was beating me. In the win-loss category, she’s still up by a million.”
Mari gave a different take on their matches, however.
“Sometimes I think she was throwing the matches on purpose just so that we could finish practice quicker,” she said.
“So the moment she started trying, I was getting pissed off.”
Naomi Osaka claimed her fourth Grand Slam title when she beat American Jennifer Brady in the Australian Open final last month.