Naomi Osaka announces she will return to tennis in 2024
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Returning to competition FILE PHOTO: Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a forehand in the Singles first round match against Daria Saville of Australia during day two of Toray Pan Pacific Open at Ariake Coliseum on September 20, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. She said she will be competing once again next year. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Naomi Osaka is returning to tennis, but not until next year.
The former No. 1 announced during an interview with ESPN that she will be returning to pro tennis. She expects to compete in January’s Australian Open, the same tournament that she had withdrawn from this year because of her pregnancy.
Osaka gave birth to her daughter, Shai, with her boyfriend, rapper Cordae, in July, CNN and ESPN reported.
Both media outlets said that she will have a busy schedule in 2024.
The four-time major champion told ESPN, “It’s definitely way more tournaments than I used to play.”
Osaka, who represents Japan, said she plans on playing more next year because she isn’t sure how well she will do when she returns and wants to make sure she gets enough court time.
“At least I’m going to set myself up for a very good end of the year.”
Osaka was at the U.S. Open this week to speak about mental health and sports. She appeared with former Olympian Michael Phelps and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. Both Osaka and Phelps discussed “their personal mental health journeys,” according to the U.S. Open.
Osaka has had issues with mental health, most notably when she was emotional during a mandatory news conference at Roland Garros in 2021, CNN reported.
She dropped out of the French Open that same year, saying that she had “suffered long bouts of depression” after winning her first major championship in 2018, CNN reported.
0 of 16
Through the years STANFORD, CA - JULY 28: Naomi Osaka of Japan returns a shot to Samantha Stosur of Australia during Day 1 of the Bank of the West Classic at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium on July 28, 2014 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 29: Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts against Angelique Kerber of Germany during their first round Women's Singles match on Day Two of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) (Elsa/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 08: Naomi Osaka of Japan cries after winning the Women's Singles finals match alongside runner up Serena Williams of the United States on Day Thirteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Through the years MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 24: Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates in her Women's Semi Final match against Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic during day 11 of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Through the years MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Naomi Osaka of Japan serves during her Women's Singles second round match against Saisai Zheng of China on day three of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts in the third set during her Women's Singles final match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus on Day Thirteen of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 12, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Through the years UNSPECIFIED - UNSPECIFIED: In this handout screengrab released on May 6, Naomi Osaka speaks after winning the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award during the Laureus World Sports Awards 2021 Virtual Award Ceremony. (Photo by Handout/Laureus via Getty Images) (Handout/Getty Images)
Through the years MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 20: Naomi Osaka of Japan poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning her Women’s Singles Final match against Jennifer Brady of the United States during day 13 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 20, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Through the years MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 20: Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates winning her Women’s Singles Final match against Jennifer Brady of the United States during day 13 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 20, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 10: Naomi Osaka attends the 2021 ESPY Awards at Rooftop At Pier 17 on July 10, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Through the years TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 23: Naomi Osaka of Team Japan holds up the Olympic torch after lighting the Olympic cauldron during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on July 23, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Through the years TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 27: Naomi Osaka of Team Japan reacts after a point during her Women's Singles Third Round match against Marketa Vondrousova of Team Czech Republic on day four of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Tennis Park on July 27, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) (David Ramos/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 13: Co-chair Naomi Osaka attends The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue ) (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: Naomi Osaka celebrates her new book "The Way Champs Play" at Barnes & Noble at The Grove on December 08, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Araya Doheny/Getty Images) (Araya Doheny/Getty Images)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
