Is Naomi Osaka playing at Australian Open 2024 and why did she take a break from tennis?

JAPANESE star Naomi Osaka has missed a lot of tennis in recent years – but Australian Open 2024 fans could be in for a treat.

Osaka previously won the tournament twice during her illustrious career, in 2019 and 2021.

AFP

Naomi Osaka hasn’t participated in a Grand Slam for over two years[/caption]

However, since then, she has stepped away from tennis as well as welcoming a baby girl into the world.

But fans want to know whether she will be back on the court in Melbourne.

Is Naomi Osaka playing at Australian Open 2024?

Naomi Osaka revealed in 2023 after the birth of daughter Shai, that her huge return will be at the Australian Open 2024.

The Grand Slam winner’s opening match will see her face Caroline Garcia in her first round of the Melbourne tournament.

Caroline Garcia vs Naomi Osaka will take place on Sunday 14^th January, 2024.

Why did she take a break from tennis?

The Japanese tennis player has previously withdrawn from the 2021 French Open due to battling with depression and anxiety.

On Friday, September 3, 2021, Osaka, 23, lost to Fernandez, 18, and later revealed that she is still battling the mental health issues that caused her to take a step back earlier this year.

“I think I’m going to take a break from playing for a while,” Osaka said at an emotional post-match press conference. “This is very hard to articulate. Basically, I feel like I’m kind of at this point where I’m trying to figure out what I want to do, and I honestly don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match. Sorry.”

Osaka continued: “I feel like for me, recently, when I win I don’t feel happy. I feel more like a relief. And then, when I lose, I feel very sad. I don’t think that’s normal. I didn’t really want to cry.”

Osaka’s decision came just one month after gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to her mental health.

What has Naomi Osaka said about the break?

Osaka admitted that the break was needed but the Japanese icon also opened up on the struggles of adjusting to life as a mother.

Speaking about the break, Osaka said “I felt like [the break] was necessary, but I kind of felt ashamed in that moment because as an athlete, you’re kind of told to be strong and push through everything.”

And then the Japanese star described her life as a mother on Glamour, by saying: “People talk about childbirth, but it’s different once you experience it.”

“My world turned into a completely different world in one night.” 

“I was shocked, because I couldn’t get up out of my bed. I had to roll sideways, and it was a really long process because, for me, my immediate way of thinking is: To rebuild this I have to do a lot of sit-ups.”

“And I learned that that’s totally not what you’re supposed to do. You’re supposed to do deep pelvic-floor work.”