Tennis star Naomi Osaka has announced that she is pregnant and plans to return to competition in 2024. The former world No. 1 shared the news in a social media post on Wednesday, which included a picture of an ultrasound.
Osaka, who is 25 years old and has been dating rapper Cordae for several years, wrote, “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 two-time Australian Open champion and two-time U.S. Open champion has not played a competitive match since September and withdrew from the upcoming Australian Open. In recent years, Osaka has taken mental health breaks and did not return to the court after the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, following her first-round loss at the U.S. Open. However, she stated that the time away has given her “a new love and appreciation for the game I’ve dedicated my life to.”
Osaka’s announcement comes after 2022 Australian Open champion Ash Barty announced her pregnancy last week. Barty retired last year while holding the No. 1 ranking. Despite her current pregnancy, Osaka stated that she will return to tennis and plans to be in Melbourne next year for the start of the Grand Slam season. She closed her statement with, “if you move forward with good intentions you’ll find your way eventually.”
