Naomi Osaka (centre) was at the US Open on Wednesday to speak on a panel about mental healthVenue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 28 August-10 SeptemberCoverage: Daily live text and radio commentaries across the BBC Sport website, app, BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka aims to compete at January’s Australian Open and play “way more tournaments” than she used to when she returns after giving birth.
The 25-year-old has not played on the WTA Tour since September 2022.
“I don’t know the level of play and I think I kind of have to ease into it,” she told ESPN at the US Open.
When asked if she had set a schedule for 2024, she replied: “It’s definitely way more tournaments than I used to play.
“I think some people will be happy with that. I think it’s because I don’t realise how the beginning of the year is going to go for me.
“At the very least I’m going to set myself up for a very good end of the year.”
Osaka said she had “definitely” missed competing and is keen to return.
“I’ve been watching matches and I’m like, I wish I was playing too,” she said.
“But I’m in this position now and I’m very grateful. I really love my daughter a lot, but it has really fuelled a fire in me.”
Osaka, who won the US Open in 2018 and 2020, and the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, was at Flushing Meadows on Wednesday to speak on a panel about mental health.
She has previously taken breaks from tennis to prioritise her mental health and spoken openly about the issues she has faced.
2023-09-07 01:15:46
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