Naomi Osaka targets Grand Slam return at Australian Open

FILE PHOTO: Japan’s Naomi Osaka. –REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File photograph

NEW YORK–Naomi Osaka mentioned she plans to compete at January’s Australian Open and can keep a busy schedule subsequent 12 months when she returns to competitors after giving delivery to her first little one.

The four-time main champion withdrew from this 12 months’s Australian Open as a consequence of her being pregnant and welcomed daughter Shai in July.

“It’s undoubtedly far more tournaments than I used to play,” Osaka informed ESPN when requested if she had set a schedule for 2024.

“I believe some folks can be proud of that.”

She additionally confirmed she would compete on the Australian Open.

The previous world primary, who represents Japan, mentioned she agreed to the larger workload next year as a result of she is uncertain how she’s going to truthful when she returns and needs to make sure she will get sufficient taking part in time as she eases herself again onto the tour.

“At the very least I’m going to set myself up for an excellent finish of the 12 months,” she mentioned.

She mentioned she has “undoubtedly” missed competing in the course of the break and that she is raring to return.

“I’ve been watching matches and I’m like, I want I used to be taking part in too,” she mentioned.

“However I’m on this place now and I’m very grateful. I actually love my daughter quite a bit, however it has actually fueled a fireplace in me.”

Osaka, 25, is a two-time U.S. Open champion and twice winner of the Australian Open who held the world’s prime rating for 25 weeks in 2019.

She took a break from tennis to prioritize her psychological well being after skipping the 2021 French Open and spoke on a panel on the subject on the U.S. Open earlier on Wednesday.

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