Naomi Osaka, who once ruled the WTA roster as world no. 1 and a four-time grand slam champion, has been a notable absence on the tennis circuit since mid-2022. Many suspected a downtick in form as a possible reason and speculated an early exit from the game for the Japanese player.
However, the reasons were much more personal for the 26-year-old, as the birth of her first child forced her to take a break from her profession. Now, a recent update on her comeback from the 2020 US Open herself has had fans of the curly-haired phenomenon jump up in joy.
Naomi Osaka reveals return date
Noami Osaka revealed in early 2023 that she was expecting a child with her beau, American rapper Cordae. On July 7, 2023, she gave birth to a baby girl. The Japanese superstar has since prolonged her break from tennis to focus on her family life, but recently took to Instagram to share an exciting update on her return.
Sharing a story on the social media platform, Naomi Osaka revealed she will return on December 31st, 2023, to take part in the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament. The WTA 500 event is set to take place in Queensland, Australia, and will feature a host of top stars looking to get into an early groove in the land down under ahead of the Australian Open.
Naomi Osaka’s presence is sure to grab headlines, as it has been over a year and a half since she played professional tennis, and her imminent return to Australia, where she bagged two grand slam titles, will be a boost to the event’s popularity.
While away from the tennis courts, Naomi has certainly not been absent from the marketing side of the sport, as seen by her recent partnership with a global sports brand.
Nike release Naomi Osaka collection
Global sportswear and apparel brand Nike recently put out a new clothing collection in association with Naomi Osaka. The designs are specifically drafted to depict Noami’s Japanese heritage while maintaining a chic, modern sportswear look.
From jackets to dresses and shoes, Nike has come up with a unique collection of apparel that is bound to have fans of Naomi run to the store to pick up their preferred dress.
Naomi Osaka joins a prestigious list of elite tennis athletes like Emma Raducanu and Serena Williams to partner with Nike and have their personal collections. It has not been revealed how much Naomi earns through her deal with Nike and how long the partnership lasts, but when she returns to the court and displays her professional proficiency, brands are bound to queue up to partner with the girl from Osaka.
Noami Osaka will play in the Brisbane International tournament before she heads to Melbourne for the year’s first grand slam, where as a two-time winner, she will be expected to dominate proceedings and produce effective performances.
What are your opinions on Naomi Osaka’s return? Let us know in the comments section below.
