A four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is set to make her highly anticipated comeback at the Brisbane International in Australia, as confirmed by organizers on Friday.
The tournament, commencing on the last day of December, serves as a warm-up for the Australian Open Grand Slam, which begins in mid-January.
Osaka, the 26-year-old former world number one, took a hiatus from the tour since September 2022, facing challenges related to her mental health and the pressures of tennis. She gave birth to her daughter, Shai, in July.
“I always love starting my season in Brisbane and can’t wait to return,” Japan’s Osaka said.
“The Brisbane International is such a great tournament and will set me up for a brilliant comeback this summer.”
Osaka has secured four major titles, emerging victorious in the Australian Opens of 2019 and 2021, and claiming the US Open titles in 2018 and 2020.
Osaka earlier this year said her break from the sport had “really fuelled a fire in me”.
In Brisbane, Naomi Osaka will be accompanied by Grand Slam champions Andy Murray and Victoria Azarenka, along with Grigor Dimitrov and Holger Rune.