{"id":1467,"date":"2023-09-07T16:53:07","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T16:53:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/osaka-to-return-for-2024-australian-open-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-09-07T16:53:07","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T16:53:07","slug":"osaka-to-return-for-2024-australian-open-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/osaka-to-return-for-2024-australian-open-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Osaka to return for 2024 Australian Open | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nNEW YORK:
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Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka<\/a> plans to return to tennis in time for the 2024 Australian Open, saying Wednesday her break from the sport “really fueled a fire in me”.<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old Japanese star gave birth to daughter Shai in July and hasn’t played since September 2022, when she made her last tournament appearance at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.<\/p>\n

In an interview with ESPN at the US Open on Wednesday, Osaka replied “yes” when asked if she would be in Melbourne at the start of next year.<\/p>\n

Osaka, who participated in a mental health forum with swimming legend Michael Phelps at Flushing Meadows, said she was anticipating making a full-time return to the women’s tour in 2024.<\/p>\n

“It’s definitely way more tournaments than I used to play,” said Osaka.<\/p>\n

“I think it’s because I realise like I don’t know how the beginning of the year is going to go for me,” she explained.<\/p>\n

“I don’t know the level of play and I think I kind of have to ease into it, so at the very least I’m going to set myself up for a very good end of the year.”<\/p>\n

The top ranked player in the world in 2019, Osaka\u00a0 — who grew up in the United States — is now ranked 603rd.<\/p>\n

She has won four Grand Slam singles titles with triumphs in the Australian Open<\/a> in 2019 and 2021 and the US Open in 2018 and 2020.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n