By Victor Kanayo
Former Tennis number one Naomi Osaka has announced she is pregnant on social media, Wednesday, the reason she won’t play at the 2023 Australian Open which kicks off January 15.
Disclosing via her verified Twitter handle, Osaka posted a picture of an ultrasound scan along with a statement.
She wrote, “The past few years have been interesting to say the least, but I find that it’s the most challenging times in life that may be the most fun.
“These few months away from the sport [have] really given me a new love and appreciation for the game I’ve dedicated my life to the future.
“One thing I’m looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, ‘that’s my mom,’ haha.
“2023 will be a year that’ll be full of lessons for me and I hope I’ll see you guys in the start of the next one cause I’ll be at Aus 2024.”
The 25-year-old Osaka has been dating Cordae, a rapper, for years.
She hasn’t played a competitive match since September and withdrew from the Australian Open, which begins Sunday. She has won that tournament twice, along with two U.S. Open championships.
Osaka has taken mental health breaks in recent years and didn’t play again after the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, shortly after falling in the first round of the US Open.
The four-time major champion has not played since the Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis in Tokyo in September 2022.
The Australian Open runs from January 15 to 28.
Ash Barty, the 2022 Australian Open champion, announced last week she was pregnant.
She retired last year while holding the No. 1 ranking.
But Osaka said she will return to tennis and plans to be in Melbourne next year for the start of the Grand Slam season.
