Pregnant Naomi Osaka spotted with Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf on tennis court
Naomi Osaka has been spotted on a tennis court for the first time since her pregnancy announcement. She was, interestingly, accompanied by tennis greats Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, and Agassi's former coach Brad Gilbert.
Last month, Osaka made the joyous announcement that she was expecting her first child. The news came just a week after she withdrew from the 2023 Australian Open.
The 25-year old has been out of the public eye since then, with the exception of her attendance at the 2023 Super Bowl.
On Sunday, however, social media was rocked by a picture of Osaka (shared on Twitter by user '@ScriptedTanya') showing up at a tennis court, with Agassi and Graf accompanying her. Whether the trio took the time to hit some balls together, though, remains unclear.
My multiverse of tennis faves ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
Naomi Osaka with Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ https://t.co/CBEoSCyWAG
Agassi and Graf need no introduction, having won eight and 22 Grand Slam titles respectively. Naomi Osaka is following in their footsteps; in 2018 she became the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title, and today she has four Majors to her credit overall.
Naomi Osaka to return to tour in 2024 after having her first child
After announcing her pregnancy to the world, Naomi Osaka revealed that she would return to the tour in 2024. She intends to take some time to bond with her child before resuming her professional tennis career.
Osaka first withdrew from the Australian Open without providing an official explanation, but later posted a picture of an ultrasound scan on social media, confirming her pregnancy. The news has been met with great enthusiasm from fans, who are eagerly anticipating the return of the four-time Grand Slam champion.
Osaka is looking forward to her new role as a mother as well, and is determined to make a triumphant return to the court soon after.
"I realize that life is so short and I don't take any moment for granted, everyday is a new blessing and adventure. 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 my matches and tell someone, 'that's my mom,'" she wrote. "2023 will be a year that's full of lessons for me and I hope to see you guys at the start of the next one because I'll be at Aus 2024. Love you all infinitely."
Several illustrious former players, including Billie Jean King, Kim Clijsters and Rennae Stubbs, sent heartfelt messages of congratulations and support to Naomi Osaka in response to her announcement.