Naomi Osaka says she’ll return to tennis after having her first child

Naomi Osaka has vowed to return to the tennis tour following the birth of her first child.

The four-time Grand Slam winner announced she is pregnant in January and is therefore missing the 2023 season. 

In her social media post she said she’d be back for the Australian Open in 2024 and now she’s reaffirmed her intentions to make a comeback. 

‘I definitely plan to come back… it’s kind of like a break a little bit, but also I feel very competitive still,’ she told WBS in Japan on Tuesday.

Osaka claimed her first Grand Slam at the US Open in 2018, before winning the showpiece Down Under a year later.

 Naomi Osaka, pictured last week left, has vowed to return to the tennis tour following the birth of her first child. She wants to win more Grand Slams with her last one coming in 2021 (right)

The four-time Grand Slam winner announced she is pregnant in a social media post in January 

Osaka’s post on her Instagram page explained she would miss the 2023 season

In 2020 she returned to Flushing Meadows to triumph again and then won her fourth Grand Slam in Melbourne two years ago.

The 25-year-old declared in the same interview: ‘I really want to win more slams.’

Osaka pulled out of this year’s Australian Open without an official reason but then revealed she is expecting her first child with the rapper Cordae days later.

‘Can’t wait to get back on the court but here’s a little life update for 2023,’ read Osaka’s caption on January 11.

The former world No. 1, who has lived in the United States for most of her life but represents Japan, the country of her birth, has been in a relationship with Grammy-nominated American rapper Cordae since 2019. 

‘I know that I have so much to look forward to in 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”. 

‘The past few years have been interesting to say the least, but I find that its the most challenging times in life that may be the most fun.

‘These few months away from the sport has really given me a new love and appreciation for the game I’ve dedicated my life to. I realize that life is so short and I don’t take any moment for granted, everyday is a new blessing and adventure.

Osaka struggled with bouts of depression after she defeated Serena Williams at 2018 US Open

‘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.’ 

Osaka took a highly-publicized mental health break from the sport after withdrawing from the French Open in May 2021, citing concerns with her mental health and overall well-being. 

She was fined $15,000 for not fulfilling her media duties at Roland Garros but she revealed she ‘suffered long bouts of depression’ since beating Serena Williams in the US Open in 2018.