Former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion, Naomi Osaka, is gearing up for a powerful tennis comeback in 2024. The tennis sensation, who recently became a mother to daughter Shai, has her sights set on a busy tournament schedule, including the Australian Open in January. Osaka, who withdrew from this year's Australian Open due to her pregnancy, shared her comeback plans with ESPN during the US Open. She acknowledged that her 2024 schedule is significantly busier than before and that fans can expect to see her on the court more often.
Naomi Osaka plans to play more tournaments in her return, including the Australian Open 🙌 @naomiosaka pic.twitter.com/iUdnkGv0st
— ESPN (@espn) September 6, 2023
"I think some people will be happy with that," Osaka remarked when discussing her packed calendar. The tennis star's return to the Australian Open is already confirmed, but she's not stopping there. Osaka's fans can look forward to an action-packed schedule next year, as she plans to participate in more tournaments than ever before. When asked about her plans, the four-time major champion mentioned, "It's definitely way more tournaments than I used to play." She's embracing this extensive schedule as a way to ease herself back into professional tennis and ensure she gets plenty of playing time.
At 25, Osaka is no stranger to success, having held the world No. 1 ranking for 25 weeks in 2019. She's a two-time champion at both the US Open and Australian Open. While taking a break to prioritize her mental health and family, she openly discussed her struggles, particularly after withdrawing from the 2021 French Open. During her hiatus, she expressed how much she missed competing. "I've been watching matches, and I'm like, 'I wish I was playing too,'" she said. "But I'm in this position now, and I'm very grateful. I really love my daughter a lot, but it has really fueled a fire in me."
Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka intends to return to professional tennis in 2024 https://t.co/lls6nnCHnU pic.twitter.com/2fQc0Q9wd6
— CNN (@CNN) September 8, 2023
As she looks ahead to her busy schedule and tennis return, Osaka continues to be a vocal advocate for mental health. She recently participated in a panel discussion on the topic at the US Open alongside other prominent figures like Michael Phelps and Dr. Vivek Murthy, emphasizing the importance of embracing one's uniqueness and the significance of mental well-being.
