Naomi Osaka announcement sends tennis fans into frenzy amid Nick Kyrgios update

Naomi Osaka has been announced as a participant at the relaunched Brisbane International - which will serve as her comeback to tennis after a year-long absence - with officials also hopeful of having Nick Kyrgios playing. Four-time grand slam champion Osaka was a mysterious withdrawal from the Australian Open in 2023, before she revealed she was expecting her first child.

The new mother is now eyeing her comeback to tennis, and will play in Brisbane at the start of the Australian summer of tennis, before heading to Melbourne for the 2024 Australian Open. Brisbane officials confirmed on Friday that they'd snared Osaka as a drawcard for the Australian Open lead-up event from December 31 to January 7.

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The Japanese star and American rapper Cordae welcomed daughter Shai into the world in Los Angeles in July. Sadly, rumours have been swirling over the last few weeks that the couple have split, with Cordae no longer featuring on Osaka's social media pages.

"Well that was a cool little intermission, now back to your regularly scheduled program," Osaka posted recently. "Can't wait to get back on the court."

The 26-year-old, who has won the Australian and US Opens twice each, has only played one competitive match since the US Open in 2021. She was leading Daria Gavrilova 1-0 at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in September of that year before the Australian tore her ACL and was forced to retire hurt.

Osaka then withdrew before her second-round match before taking time out to have her first child. It means she has only played a solitary game in more than two years.

"She knows she's going to optimise her preparation for Melbourne. It was an easy conversation but I'm thrilled she's coming back," Brisbane International tournament director Cam Pearson said on Friday. "To restart her career after becoming a mum, we couldn't be more thrilled she's chosen Brisbane."

Naomi Osaka wants grand slams and World No.1 ranking

The former World No.1 will be the latest mum to make a comeback to tennis, joining the likes of Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber, Caroline Wozniacki and Elina Svitolina. And she's not just making up the numbers, with performance coach Florian Zitzelsberger revealing she wants the top spot in the rankings back.

“Where she is today is what makes working with her so inspiring,” Zitzelsberger told Tennis Majors. “She wants to get back to World No. 1, she wants to win grand slams. She gives me the impression of someone who is totally balanced and happy with herself. She’s very much grounded, mature and embracing the beauty of motherhood.”

Osaka previously revealed she has set a schedule for herself for 2024, saying: “It’s definitely way more tournaments than I used to play, so I think some people will be happy with that.” She told ESPN in September: “Honestly, I think it’s because I realise I don’t know how the beginning of the year is going to go for me. I don’t know the level of play. And I think I kind of have to ease into it. So at the very least, I’m going to set myself up for a very good end of the year.”

Fellow former World No.1s Andy Murray and Victoria Azarenka will also feature in a star-studded line-up in Brisbane that will also likely feature Carlos Alcaraz. "It's extraordinary isn't it," Pearson said about Murray. "For him to get back from that period and jump on this court will be great for him. It's amazing he's still going around. He's bionic man, isn't he? He's got a real love of the game and I think he'll keep playing until he loses that."

Nick Kyrgios a 'wait and see' prospect as return remains mystery

Meanwhile, Pearson said they're hopeful of having Nick Kyrgios play in Brisbane, but the Aussie star's return is still up in the air. Kyrgios has only played one match this year due to knee and wrist injuries, but is thought to be eyeing a return before the Australian Open.

"There's been a lot of conversations to see whether or not he'll be ready in time for January," Pearson said. "That's still a wait and see approach. That's what Nick said.

"We've got another month before entries close. Nick's got time to continue his rehab and it'd be great to see him out on the court for sure. Nick needs to do what's best for Nick. He's a former champion (in 2018), really enjoys playing on Pat Rafter Arena. I'd be really hopeful that if we see him playing in January we'll see him here in Brisbane."

with AAP

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