Naomi Osaka falls to unthinkable nine-year first amid absence from tennis

Naomi Osaka has fallen to World No.314 and will be set to fall even further as she takes time away from tennis after announcing she is pregnant. Osaka left the tennis world stunned earlier in the year when she announced her withdrawal from the Australian Open without giving a reason.

Only a few days later Osaka delighted her fans after the 25-year-old announced she was pregnant with her first child. The four-time grand slam champion hadn't played tennis since the Pan Pacific Open in September and had been travelling with her rapper boyfriend Cordae.

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Before her break from the game, Osaka was struggling with her ranking having been in and out of form. Despite not having played since September, Osaka had remained in the top 100.

Since her time off and missing the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami Open - where she made the final last year in her lost to Iga Swiatek - Osaka has plummeted down the world rankings.

Osaka hasn't been as low as World No.314 since her 2014. The 29-year-old star entered the WTA rankings in November 2013, which saw her reach World No.1 in January 2019.

Osaka hasn't been outside the top 100 since 2016. Unfortunately, Osaka will miss Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open in 2023.

She hasn't played at Wimbledon for two years and was eliminated in both the French Open and US Open in the first round in 2022. However, despite some tough news, Osaka recently reiterated her plans to return to the sport in 2023 and is eyeing the Australian Open as a comeback.

Naomi Osaka delights fans with tennis update

In great news for the sport, Osaka said she still has that competitive drive and is eager for a return to tennis. Speaking to WBS last week in Japan, Osaka said she hasn't lost her competitive drive as she plans a return in 2024.

"I definitely plan to come back...it's kinda of like a break a little bit, but also I feel very competitive still, and I really want to win more slams," she said. Osaka has won four grand slams, two Aus Open and two US Open titles, and reached the World No.1 ranking in 2019.

The 25-year-old is one of the most marketable athletes in the world and is one of the biggest names in tennis. Her return would only bolster a burgeoning WTA roster with players such as Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina taking over the sport.

osaka has expressed her desire for a return to the sport - which has seen her win four grand slams - so her child could see what her mother did for a living.

"Can't wait to get back on the court but here's a little life update for 2023," she wrote. "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 one of my matches and tell someone, 'that's my mom', haha.'

"2023 will be a year that'll be full of lessons for me and I hope I'll see you guys in the start of the next one cause I'll be at Aus 2024. Love you all infinitely." Her post was accompanied by what appeared to be a pregnancy scan.

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