Four-time Grand Slam winner and the former world no.1 women’s singles player Naomi Osaka plans to make a comeback to the tennis court, at the 2024 Australian Open. The 25-year-old said that the break from tennis had ‘really fueled a fire in me’. The tennis star had given birth to a baby girl in July this year and has been out of action since September 2022.
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During an interview with ESPN, Osaka said, she will make a return to the circuit soon. The 25-year-old also spoke about her chances next year, and if she would be at her best right from the very start. “It’s definitely way more tournaments than I used to play,” said Osaka.
“I think it’s because I realise like I don’t know how the beginning of the year is going to go for me,” she explained. “I don’t know the level of play and I think I kind of have to ease into it, so at the very least I’m going to set myself up for a very good end of the year.”
The current world no. 603 has won the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021 and the US Open in 2018 and 2020. Even though she was supposed to take part in the Australian Open 2023, she withdrew from the tournament with the news of her pregnancy. Prior to that she had not played a few tournaments to focus on her mental health.