Naomi Osaka arrives in Paris ahead of 2024 Olympics, her second participation at premier event after home campaign in Tokyo 2020
Naomi Osaka has arrived in Paris where the upcoming Olympic Games will be held. The Japanese tennis star will be participating in her second Games following her appearance on home soil in Tokyo in 2021.
After taking a year-long hiatus in 2023 due to pregnancy, Osaka was back on tour this year. Highlights from her 2024 season until now include two quarterfinals appearances, the Qatar Ladies Open, and the Libema Open. This was her first quarterfinal appearance since 2022.
She even played an extraordinary match against Iga Swiatek in the second round of the French Open. Osaka was on the verge of defeating the reigning champion but the Pole made an outrageous comeback to win.
Following a second-round exit at Wimbledon against Emma Navarro, Osaka posted about her trip to New York on Instagram. She even practiced on the hard courts.
However, the 26-year-old has made her way back to Paris as she will be representing Japan at the Olympics. The tennis event will be played on the clay courts of the Roland Garros grounds. She posted an image of the Eiffel Tower on her Instagram Story, announcing her arrival in the city.
This will be her second appearance at the Olympic Games after she played in Tokyo in 2021. The 2021 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year created history at her home Olympics as she became the first tennis player to light the Olympic cauldron. She finished ninth in the women's singles event.
Naomi Osaka feels Olympics is a celebration of sports and hopes to earn a medal at the 2024 Paris Games
Upon making her comeback to tour, Osaka was unsure if she would be playing in the Olympics this year. However, speaking at the Billie Jean Cup in Tokyo, she mentioned that she would love to play and win a medal.
“I would love to play. Growing up watching the Olympics on TV, I felt that it was a celebration of sport," Osaka said.
“I thought it brought everyone together and just to be able to be an athlete there and interact with other athletes is one of the funnest things that I've ever done. I have high ambitions of myself and I hope that I can do really well and get a medal,” she added.
Earlier in June, the Japan Tennis Association announced that the four-time Grand Slam winner will be taking part in the Olympics. Along with Naomi Osaka, former US Open finalist Key Nishikori will also represent Japan. The tennis event is scheduled to begin on July 27.