Naomi Osaka, the former world number one, confirmed on Wednesday that she is pregnant and would be out of the game until 2024...
Digital Desk: Naomi Osaka, the former world number one, confirmed on Wednesday that she is pregnant and would be out of the game until 2024.
"I know I have so much to look forward to in the future, one thing I'm looking forward to is for my kid to watch my matches and say, 'That's my mom,' hehe," she posted on Twitter, alongside an ultrasound image of a prenatal scan.
"For me, 2023 will be a year full of lessons, and I want to see you all at the start of the next one because I'll be back at the Australian Open in 2024. I adore you all enormously "She went on to say.
Osaka, 25, has not played a tennis match since September, and her decision to withdraw from the Australian Open, which begins next Monday, perplexed many onlookers.
Her recent social media photos showed her travelling over Europe with her partner, American rapper Cordae. They've been together since 2019.
Osaka did not explain her absence until Wednesday when she shared "a short life update for 2023."
Osaka last competed in a tournament in September, when she withdrew before her second-round match due to stomach problems.
Osaka has four Grand Slam singles titles, with victories at the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, as well as the US Open in 2018 and 2020.
She had previously spoken openly about her difficulties with mental health and despair, and she retired from tennis following the French Open in 2021 before returning to compete in the Tokyo Olympics later that year.
She was voted the world's top-earning female athlete for 2022 by Forbes, with reported earnings of $51.1 million. She has a string of lucrative endorsement deals around the world, notably with some prominent Japanese firms.
Osaka's prolonged absence from the tour had fueled speculation about her future in the sport, but she stated on Wednesday that her time away had given her a fresh perspective on the game.
"These few months away from the sport have given me a new passion and appreciation for the game to which I've committed my life," she wrote.
"I recognise how fleeting life is, and I don't take any moments for granted; every day is a new joy and adventure," Osaka added.
Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, and Kim Clijsters all returned to the court after becoming moms to compete.
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