Naomi Osaka announces tennis return with 2024 Brisbane International

Published at :November 11, 2023 at 12:04 PM

Modified at :January 14, 2024 at 1:03 AM

(Courtesy : The Independent)

The former World No. 1 will return to the WTA tour after a two-year break.

Former World No. 1, Naomi Osaka, has announced her return to the WTA tennis circuit. The four-time Grand Slam singles champion is set to make her comeback at the 2024 Brisbane International. Having held the top ranking in January 2019, Osaka briefly regained it in August of the same year. Osaka expressed her excitement about returning to play in Brisbane.

The Brisbane event serves as a warm-up for the Australian Open Grand Slam, beginning on December 31st and concluding on January 7th. Osaka has an impressive record with four major titles, including two Australian Open wins in 2019 and 2021 and two US Open victories in 2018 and 2020.

First tournament next year 😖 so excited, I haven’t been to Brisbane in a while. https://t.co/QpCvtBRGUu
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) November 10, 2023

The 26-year-old hasn’t competed since the Toray Pan Pacific Open in September 2022. After withdrawing from the WTA tour in January, Osaka welcomed her daughter, Shai, in July 2023. She has been open about her struggles with anxiety and depression, advocating for increased mental health awareness.

Notably, she withdrew from the 2021 French Open due to press conferences’ impact on her mental health, later announcing her decision to abstain from post-match press conferences to prioritize her mental well-being. Additionally, she took a break from the sport and skipped the 2021 Wimbledon.

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Osaka recently participated in the “Mental Health and Sport: Why It Matters” forum at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during the US Open, where she emphasized the importance of destigmatizing discussions around mental health.

The 2024 Brisbane International marks its return to the WTA calendar after a three-year hiatus. Alongside Osaka, notable participants include Andy Murray, Victoria Azarenka, Holger Rune, and 2023 Paris Masters finalist, Grigor Dimitrov.