A “pumped” Naomi Osaka has spent her first Christmas as a mother sweating it out on Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane as her tennis return draws closer.
A summer of tennis
- December 29–January 7: United Cup (Mixed team event, Perth)
- December 31–January 7: Brisbane International (men’s, women’s)
- January 1–8: Adelaide International 1 (women’s)
- January 8–13: Adelaide International (men’s)
- January 2–8: Auckland Open (women’s)
- January 8–13: Auckland Open (men’s)
- January 9–14: Adelaide International 2 (women’s)
- January 9–14: Hobart International (women’s)
- January 16–29: Australian Open (Melbourne)
The former world number one will make her WTA comeback at the Brisbane International, which is making a return of its own four years after it was last contested by men and women.
She has hit the ground running in Brisbane ahead of a tournament that begins on Sunday and is seen as crucial preparation for the Australian Open next month.
The 26-year-old practiced for the first time on Christmas Day and hit the court again in humid conditions on Wednesday morning.
“She’s really pumped and excited to be back in Brisbane,” tournament director Cameron Pearson said.
“She arrived Christmas morning and was out practicing a few hours later.
“No Christmas pudding for her. She was straight into it.”
A two-time Australian and US Open champion, Osaka was a surprise scratch from last year’s Melbourne Park major before later revealing she was pregnant.
The Japanese superstar and her American rapper boyfriend,, Cordae,, welcomed daughter Shai into the world in Los Angeles in July.
