Naomi Osaka, the celebrated tennis star, surprised fans with her pregnancy announcement on Wednesday. She shared a photo of an ultrasound scan on her social media accounts, accompanied by a heartfelt message reflecting on her recent experiences.
“The past few years have been interesting to say the least, but I find that it’s the most challenging times in life that may be the most fun,” the four-time major champion wrote alongside the photo.
Osaka revealed that her time away from the sport has rekindled her passion for tennis. She plans to make her comeback at the 2024 Australian Open, a tournament she has won twice before.
“I know that I have so much to look forward to in the future,” she added, expressing her excitement about her child one day watching her play and proudly saying, “that’s my mom.”
The announcement came shortly after the Australian Open organizers confirmed her withdrawal from the upcoming tournament. Osaka has not played since the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in September of the previous year.
Her break from competitive tennis has been marked by her openness about mental health struggles.
A particularly emotional moment occurred during a mandatory press conference at Roland Garros in August 2021, leading to her withdrawal from the French Open and a revelation of her long battles with depression since her first major championship win in 2018.
Osaka’s statement on Wednesday conveyed her philosophical outlook: “I don’t think there’s a perfectly correct path to take in life but I always felt that if you move forward with good intentions you’ll find your way eventually.”