Naomi Osaka announces pregnancy, vows to return to tennis

Barely a week, after announcing her withdrawal from the Australian Open, four-time Grand Slam champion, Naomi Osaka has revealed she is pregnant.

The Japanese, a former world number one, withdrew from the first Grand Slam of the Year, the Australian Open earlier this week, having not played since September.

“2023 will be a year that’ll be full of lessons for me,” said Osaka, adding that she hopes to return in 2024.

“One thing I am looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, ‘that’s my mom’.”

Osaka won the last of her four Grand Slams at the Australian Open in 2021.

However, she has spoken of the problems she has faced since that memorable title win.

In May 2021, after pulling out of the French Open, she revealed she had “suffered long bouts of depression” ever since winning her first major title, the US Open, in 2018.

In September 2021 she took a five-month break from the sport.

She lost in the third round of the Australian Open on her return, then the first round of the French Open, missed Wimbledon because of injury, and lost in the opening round of the US Open.

Osaka played last at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in September and has dropped to 47 in the world rankings.

“The past few years have been interesting, to say the least, but I find that it is the most challenging times in life that may be the most fun,” added Osaka, announcing her pregnancy on social media.

“These few months away from the sport have given me a new love and appreciation for the game I’ve dedicated my life to.

Osaka is the latest high-profile player to take a break from tennis due to pregnancy.

Germany’s three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber revealed her pregnancy in August, suggesting she will return after giving birth, while former world number three Elina Svitolina is expected to make her comeback this year after giving birth last October.

Serena Williams took a break to give birth in 2017 and returned later the same year, continuing to play before retiring in 2022.