CNN
CNN
—
Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka revealed in an exclusive interview with ESPN that she plans to make a comeback to professional tennis in 2024.
Osaka, a four-time major champion, recently became a mother to a baby girl and expressed her intention to play a busy schedule next year.
She stated, “It’s definitely way more tournaments than I used to play. So, I think some people will be happy with that.” in an interview with ESPN.
Osaka also emphasized the need to ease into the beginning of the year and set herself up for success at the end of the year.
The tennis star, who last competed in September 2022, previously announced her intention to return to the Australian Open in 2024, a tournament she has won twice.
When asked if she missed playing during her break, Osaka responded with a definitive “definitely.”
Reflecting on her time away from tennis, she shared, “I’ve been watching matches and I’m like, ‘I wish I was playing too.’ But I’m in this position now and I’m very grateful. I really love my daughter a lot, but I think it really fueled a fire in me.”
Osaka took a break from competitive tennis to focus on her mental health, revealing her struggles with depression after winning her first major championship in 2018.
She withdrew from the French Open in 2021 following a highly publicized incident where she addressed the media while under stress and emotional strain.
Osaka made an appearance at the US Open and participated in a mental health forum alongside notable figures like Michael Phelps and Dr. Vivek Murthy.
Learning from her experience, she expressed her role as a mental health advocate and the importance of raising awareness about mental health.
Osaka shared, “I feel like I am someone that’s learning all the time. Obviously, I learned a lot from the talk as I was talking. I would say my role is just raising awareness and letting people know that they’re not alone.”
She also emphasized the need to destigmatize mental health and raise awareness about its importance, comparing it to physical health.
Osaka briefly touched upon feeling lonely during her pregnancy and her struggles with adapting to a new situation and dealing with restrictions on training.
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