The Brisbane International in Australia will host the much awaited comeback of four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, according to officials on Friday.
The Brisbane event, which begins on December 31st, serves as a prelude to the Australian Open Grand Slam, which takes place in mid-January.
After giving birth to her baby Shai in July, the 26-year-old former world number one Osaka withdrew from the circuit in September 2022 due to mental health issues and the demands of the game of tennis.
Japan’s Osaka said, “I always love starting my season in Brisbane and can’t wait to return.”
“I’m going to have a fantastic return this summer thanks to the Brisbane International, which is such an amazing tournament.”
With victories in the Australian Opens in 2019 and 2021 as well as the US Open in 2018 and 2020, Osaka has won four major championships.
Earlier in the year, Osaka said that her time away from the sport had “really fuelled a fire in me.”
Grand Slam champions Andy Murray and Victoria Azarenka, along with Grigor Dimitrov and Holger Rune, will join Osaka in Brisbane.