Naomi Osaka has arrived in Australia, eager to launch her comeback at the December 31 – January 7 Brisbane International. The tennis champ, who recently became a mom, spent Christmas Day hustling on the court, proving her strong work ethic.
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At 26 years old, Osaka is gearing up for her first tournament since the Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis in September 2022. This four-time Grand Slam winner embarked on a life-changing journey when she welcomed her baby girl, Shai (which means “gift” in Hebrew), into the world in July. Motherhood has given Osaka a whole new outlook on life, and it’ll be intriguing to witness how it impacts her game. We know she’s very ambitious — her goal is to win eight more majors.
Osaka revealed that during labor, her prevailing thought was, “I know that if I get through this, then everything else will feel very easy.” She also expressed that her pregnancy had been ‘kind of rough,’ detailing the various complications she faced in a recent interview with InStyle. “I don’t think people know how hard pregnancy is; no one really talks about it as much,” the young mom shared her experience.
After the Brisbane International, Osaka’s comeback will continue at the Australian Open, the major she’s won twice.