By Victor Kanayo
Japanese Tennis star and former world number one Naomi Osaka has announced her readiness to compete, about six months after giving birth to her new born.
Osaka who disclosed this via a statement said, “I am really excited about getting back out on court and competing. I always love starting my season in Brisbane and can’t wait to return. It will set me up for a brilliant comeback this summer.”
The Brisbane tournament begins on December 31, 2023.
The tournament will end on January 7, 2024. It will be a major event in the run-up to the Australian Open which kicks January 14.
The Brisbane tournament, which is returning after a three-year hiatus forced initially by the Covid-19 pandemic, will also feature Andy Murray, twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, world No 10 Holger Rune and world No 14 Grigor Dimitrov from December 31 to January 7.
Play Draught Of A Grand Slam WinnerNaomi Osaka
Osaka hasn’t played on the WTA Tour since September 2022 in Tokyo, Japan.
In July 2023, she announced the birth of her first child with American rapper Cordae.
The Japanese four-time Grand Slam winner announced her pregnancy in January and had daughter Shai in July.
The 26-year-old has not played on the WTA Tour since the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in September 2022.
It was at the Australian Open in 2021 that Osaka won the most recent of her four Grand Slams. That was her second title at Melbourne Park.
