Four-time Grand Slam winner and former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka has announced that she is pregnant with her first child, which explains her withdrawal from the upcoming Australian Open.
Osaka took to Instagram and Twitter on Thursday morning to confirm the news by sharing a picture of her ultrasound.
“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’, haha’,” she wrote, remaining tight-lipped on the baby’s due date.
“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,” Osaka wrote on Instagram.
“I realise that life is so short and I don’t take any moments for granted, everyday is a new blessing and adventure.
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“I knew that I have so much to look forward to in the future.”
Will Naomi Osaka play in the Australian Open 2024?
The exciting news comes just days after Osaka withdrew from the 2023 Australian Open, prompting speculation that the tennis superstar may be retiring from the sport amid ongoing struggles with her mental health.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, Osaka has quickly put those rumours to rest by confirming that she will be out for the entire 2023 season before returning to Australia for the Australian Open in 2024.
“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,” said Osaka.
The 25-year-old’s last appearance on the WTA tour was at the Pan Pacific Open in September last year — which she was forced to withdraw from due to abdominal illness.
It is shaping up to be an interesting Australian Open, with Naomi Osaka being just one of many big names who have been forced to withdraw from the event including Venus Williams, Rafael Nadal and current World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.
Which Grand Slams has Naomi Osaka won?
Naomi Osaka won the Australian Open in 2021 and 2019, plus the US Open in 2018 and 2020.
