Naomi Osaka explained her decision to skip the 2023 Australian Open in a Twitter announcement around 2:20 AM JST on Thursday, January 12, revealing that she's pregnant.
Osaka's tweet was reposted more than 25,900 times in the next nine hours. And it was viewed more than 18.9 million times on the social media site in that span.
The four-time Grand Slam singles champion, including titles at the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, said she is planning to launch a comeback next year.
"2023 will be a year that'll be full of lessons for me and I hope I'll see you guys in the start of the next one cause I'll be at Aus 2024," tweeted Osaka, who turned 25 in October 2022. "Love you all infinitely."
Osaka, who lit the cauldron during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021, posted a photo of an ultrasound on Twitter.
Can’t wait to get back on the court but here’s a little life update for 2023. pic.twitter.com/GYXRnutU3I
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) January 11, 2023
She also wrote in her tweet that she's excited about this next chapter in her life.
"I know that I have so much to look forward to in the future, one thing I'm looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, 'that's my mom,' " Osaka said in the tweet.
The Australian Open, the year's first Grand Slam, is set to get underway on Monday, January 16.
Naomi Osaka's Absence from WTA Tour
Osaka has not played on the WTA Tour since pulling out of the Toray Pan Pacific Open due to stomach pain before her second-round match on September 22, 2022.
The former world No. 1 player's longtime boyfriend is rapper Cordae.
Congratulatory messages flooded Twitter after Osaka's announcement.
From the Miami Open’s official account: "Massive congratulations to our '22 #MiamiOpen finalist, @naomiosaka!"
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova tweeted, "Congratulations!!! Wishing you only the best."
Author: Ed Odeven
Follow Ed on JAPAN Forward's [Japan Sports Notebook] here on Sundays, in [Odds and Evens] here during the week, and Twitter ＠ed_odeven, and find him on JAPAN Forward's dedicated sports website, SportsLook.
