‘A little life update for 2023’: Naomi Osaka confirms pregnancy | Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka has provided context for her absence from this year’s Australian Open, posting a photo and text on Twitter announcing that she is pregnant with her first child.

The 25-year-old tennis star and four-time Grand Slam champion posted a photo of a baby sonogram dated last month along with the message: “Can’t wait to get back on the court but here’s a little life update for 2023.”

She also included screenshots of a statement in English and Japanese, where she wrote: “These few months away from the sport have really given me a new love and appreciation for the game I’ve dedicated my life to.

“I know I have a lot to look forward to in the future; one thing I’m looking forward to is my kid watching some of my matches and saying to someone, “That’s my mom.”

Osaka officially withdrew from the Australian Open, which she has won twice, on Sunday, prompting questions and speculation about her absence. She added that she was looking forward to returning to Melbourne Park to take part in next year’s tournament.

The former world No. 1, who has also won the US Open twice, last played a competitive match at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in September, where she won the opening match against Daria Saville before retiring before the round of second. tie with Beatriz Haddad Maia due to colic.

Osaka has been in a relationship with North Carolina rapper Cordae since 2019, the same year she reached the top spot in the WTA rankings for the first time, with the pair shutting down rumors that they had split in August . A publicist for the Grammy-nominated musician confirmed to the Guardian that he is the father of Osaka’s child.

Osaka, who lifted the trophy in Melbourne in 2019 and 2021, is the latest in a line of recent Australian Open champions to take maternity leave.

Ashleigh Barty, last year’s winner, retired in March while holding the No.1 ranking before announcing she was pregnant last week. Caroline Wozniacki, the 2018 champion, welcomed her second child with husband David Lee in October, while Serena Williams won the 2017 tournament while pregnant with her daughter, Alexis Olympia.

Osaka has made several highly publicized revelations about her struggles with mental health since pulling out of the 2021 French Open and revealed she had “suffered long bouts of depression” since capturing her major title at the 2018 US Open .

“I don’t think there’s a completely correct path to take in life, but I’ve always felt that if you go forward with good intentions, eventually you’ll find your way,” she added on Wednesday.