Naomi Osaka is pregnant — and says she might be returning to the tennis courtroom docket subsequent year.
Osaka shared the news, together with a image of a sonogram, and messages, in each Japanese and English, on social media Wednesday afternoon.
"I recognize that I actually have a lot to look ahead to withinside the future, one factor I'm searching ahead to is for my youngster to observe certainly considered one among my fits and inform someone, 'it is my mom,' haha," Osaka wrote.
The 25-year-vintage tennis famous person rose to prominence after defeating Serena Williams, one of the maximum influential gamers at the courtroom docket, withinside the U.S. Open Final in 2018. Osaka's next victories withinside the Australian Open in 2019, the U.S. Open in 2020 and the Australian Open in 2021 speedy cemented her as certainly considered one among only some gamers to ever win their first 4 Grand Slam tournaments.
But the highest-paid woman athlete withinside the global publicly spread out approximately her struggles with intellectual fitness after pulling out of the 2021 French Open. After pronouncing she would not participate in required media appearances, officers fined her $15,000 — and threatened to expel her from the tournament.
And after dropping withinside the 2021 U.S. Open, Osaka introduced that she could take an indefinite hiatus from tennis. Many athletes publicly praised Osaka for brazenly sharing her struggles with intellectual fitness.
"I in reality do not know whilst I'm going to play my subsequent tennis match," Osaka informed journalists in a information conference. "I suppose I'm gonna take a ruin from gambling for a whilst."
The statement on Wednesday additionally comes days after Osaka stated she could now no longer be performing withinside the 2023 Australian open. However, withinside the social media post, Osaka showed that she is predicted to compete withinside the Australian Open in 2024. It'll be Osaka's first look at the courtroom docket considering competing on the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo final September, whilst she withdrew because of illness.
Osaka additionally contemplated at the time she's taken off from the sport. In May, Osaka introduced that she could be launching her very own sports activities agency. Osaka additionally wrote a kid's ee-e book that become launched final month.
"The beyond few years had been thrilling to mention the least, however I discover that its the maximum tough instances in lifestyles that can be the maximum fun," Osaka wrote Wednesday, including that the months-lengthy hiatus led to "a brand new love and appreciation for the sport I've devoted my lifestyles to."
Osaka has been in a dating with Grammy-nominated rapper Cordae considering 2019. The contemplated on their years-lengthy dating, inclusive of assembly for the primary time at an LA Clippers game, in a 2021 unfold for GQ.
"I sense like he truly actually helped me win just, like, maintaining up the motivation," Osaka informed the magazine, whilst reflecting at the assist he gave her whilst she quarantined for the U.S. Open in 2020.
On Wednesday, Osaka concluded her word saying: "I do not suppose there is a wonderfully accurate route to soak up lifestyles however I constantly felt that in case you circulate ahead with proper intentions you will discover your manner eventually."