Former world number one Osaka took a break from tennis in 2023 to welcome her first child, a daughter named Shai, in July. She made her competitive comeback at the start of the 2024 season.
After winning her first match at the Brisbane International, Osaka suffered three consecutive defeats. She was eliminated in the second round of the WTA 500 tournament, as well as in the first round of both the Australian Open and Abu Dhabi Open.
Criticism arose regarding the timing of her return, with tennis legend Martina Navratilova expressing particular disapproval. Navratilova assessed Osaka’s performance after her exit from the season-opening Grand Slam, stating that while her tennis skills were at a B-plus level, her overall performance was a C due to her lack of fitness.
Despite the setbacks, Osaka made an impressive comeback at the Qatar Open, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to Karoline Pliskova in straight sets. This strong showing helped her climb 461 places in the WTA Rankings, placing her at number 286.
Petchey, a tennis analyst, believes that Osaka still has much more to offer as a former world number one. He expressed his belief that people were too quick to judge her after her recent loss and that she demonstrated great potential in her matches. Petchey emphasized that Osaka’s physical and mental condition is in good shape, making her a formidable opponent.
Although Osaka was scheduled to participate in the Dubai Tennis Championship, she ultimately withdrew from the event. Her next appearance will be at the Indian Wells Open, where she will enter using her special ranking.
According to the Source tennis365.com