Naomi Osaka said Friday she can “feel the nostalgia” at the Australian Open as the two-time former champion prepares to make her return to Grand Slam tennis after becoming a mother.
The former world number one stepped away from tennis in September 2022, citing mental health concerns.
After giving birth to a baby girl, Shai, in July, Osaka rediscovered her love of the game and decided to return for the 2024 season.
“I’ve been able to hit with a couple players and kind of, I guess, feel the nostalgia again,” she said. “But super-excited to be back. It’s been really fun so far.”
The Japanese star, who has won four Grand Slams, said she relished being back at Melbourne Park, where she won the tournament in 2019 and 2021.
“I love the comfort of it,” she said. “I guess just going into the locker room and having the same locker as before.
“I think little things like that really make me happy. Just being able to hit on Rod Laver (Arena), I guess look up at the sky and kind of just realise, like, I’ve been able to win twice here. I would love to do it again.
“I feel like this Slam is the one that changes the most, but there are some things that stay the same. Those are the things that I think give me the most nostalgia.”
Osaka said it had been hard to be apart from Shai, who has not travelled with her, as she returned to the court for the Australian swing.
The 26-year-old was beaten in the second round of last week’s Brisbane International by Karolina Pliskova.
Meanwhile, Caroline Wozniacki admits ultimately she will “never be cool” to her two young children even as they watch her pursue more Grand Slam glory at the Australian Open.
The Dane made a shock return to tennis last year after retiring in 2020, reaching the fourth round at the US Open in her first major for three years.
Now the former world number one is back at Melbourne Park — the scene of her only major win, in 2018 — with Oliva (two) and James (one) in tow.
She has joined a group of tennis mums juggling on-court commitments with the duties of motherhood, including Elina Svitolina, Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka.
Wozniacki, given a wild card to play in Melbourne, told a pre-tournament press conference on Friday that she travels “everywhere” with her children.
“It’s a lot of fun to be able to share these memories with them, even though they’re still pretty small,” she said.
“I think I felt busy before, before having kids,” she added. “I thought I don’t know how you can be more busy, but that definitely was proven wrong after having children.
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve played for one hour, three hours, 10 hours, they’re still there and having full energy. They want you to be there 100 percent for them.”
Similarly, former world number one and new mum Angelique Kerber says she still “has the fire” to compete at the top and always planned to return to tennis after giving birth.
The three-time major champion ended an 18-month hiatus at the United Cup this month, helping Germany win the title in Sydney.
Now preparing for her first Grand Slam since having a baby, she admitted missing the emotions and drama that come with being on court.
“Why I’m coming back? I think this is the question a lot of people are asking me. It is because I love the sport, I love to play tennis,” the 35-year-old said Friday ahead of the Australian Open, which she won in 2016.
