The four-time major champion, who gave birth to a daughter in July, is scheduled to play at the Brisbane International in December
Naomi Osaka is ready for action!
The former tennis No. 1 – who gave birth to daughter Shai in July – says she is excited about her comeback.
“I’m really excited to get back on court and compete,” Osaka, 26, told the WTA Tour.
The tennis star will compete at the Brisbane International, a WTA 500 tournament that starts on December 31.
“I always love starting my season in Brisbane and I can’t wait to get back,” Osaka said. “The Brisbane International is such a great tournament and will set me up for a brilliant comeback this summer.”
Naomi Osaka opens up about missing tennis and feeling ‘lonely’ during pregnancy
The athlete grabbed headlines after she announced in September that she would play in the Australian Open, her first major tournament since retiring from the tournament last year before welcoming her first child with rapper Cordae.
The Brisbane International comes two weeks before the start of the Australian Open on January 14, 2024.
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Osaka, a two-time Australian Open and two-time US Open winner, has not played tennis since last September’s Toray Pan Pacific Open when she announced her pregnancy retirement.
But the new mum seemed to miss the competition that comes with being on the court, telling ESPN at the US Open last September that she had an “itch to play again”.
“I feel great joy coming back here. It’s like seeing an old friend I haven’t seen in a long time.” Osaka told ESPN’s Chris McKendry about his return to court. “I went through the tunnel of small players, but obviously, I’m not playing. I’m itching to play again, but I guess I’ll have to wait until next year.”
Naomi Osaka says she had to fight ‘thoughts I wouldn’t be a good mum’
In a separate interview with ESPN, Osaka opened up about feeling “lonely” during her pregnancy and announced her plans to return to competitive tennis in January at the Australian Open, which she won in both 2019 and 2021.
I realized that I don’t know how the beginning of the year will go for me, she said. “I don’t know at what level I am playing and I think I have to relax. At the very least, I will prepare myself for a very good end of the year.”
She added of her feelings while sitting on the sidelines: “It’s like, ‘I wish I could play,’ but now I’m in this position and I’m very grateful. I really love my daughter a lot, but I think it’s fueled the fire in me. ”
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Source: HIS Education