Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka pens a heartfelt message for her fans ahead of her comeback next year.
Naomi Osaka recently announced her return and is set to play her first tournament at the Brisbane International which is a warm-up to the Australian Open. She played her last match at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in September 2022 where she had to withdraw in the second round citing abdominal injury.
A few months later, she stunned her fans announcing her withdrawal from the 2023 Australian Open followed by the news of her pregnancy. She and her long-time boyfriend Cordae welcomed their daughter ‘Shai’ in July. But, Osaka did not want to disappoint and keep her fans waiting and started training 15 days after the birth of her daughter. She showed her intent to make a comeback at the 2024 Australian Open.
A few months ago she confirmed her return and mentioned that the Brisbane International would be her first tournament which is starting on 31st December 2023. The Two-time Australian Open champion also received a special ranking of No.46 due to her maternity leave and has been granted a direct entry into the main draw of the 2024 Australian Open.
Ahead of her return, she shared a heartfelt message for her fans thanking them for their support and belief.
Naomi Osaka reflects on her time away from tennis
Naomi Osaka played her last tournament at the Pan Pacific Open in September 2022 where she had to withdraw from the second round due to abdominal injury. She announced the news of her pregnancy and stayed away from action for more than a year.
She is now ready for her return that too at the very first tournament of the new year at the 2024 Brisbane International. In a recent interview, she reflected on her time away from tennis.
“I’ve stepped away from tennis before. But this time, it was the longest duration of my life. And I think it kind of gave me a perspective like, Hey you’re not going to play tennis forever. And you kind of have to cherish the years that you can play. I do want to be a good role model for Shai, and I want her to see that this was an important chapter in my life.”
-Naomi Osaka in an interview
