Naomi Osaka of Japan returns a shot in opposition to Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan throughout their Billie Jean King Cup tennis match in Tokyo, on April 12, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Former world primary Naomi Osaka stated Saturday that she “would like to play” at this yr’s Paris Olympics if she is granted a spot by tennis chiefs.
The four-time Grand Slam champion might must undergo an appeals course of to say a spot after failing to make a compulsory two appearances for Japan within the Billie Jean King Cup in the course of the present Olympic cycle.
Osaka lit the cauldron on the opening ceremony of the Covid-delayed Tokyo Video games in 2021, the place she went on to make the third spherical.
She has since grow to be a mom, returning to tennis late final yr after a 15-month maternity break.
She informed reporters in Tokyo after serving to Japan qualify for the BJK Cup finals that she’s going to play in Paris “in the event that they let me”.
“Rising up watching the Olympics on TV, I felt that it was a celebration of sport,” she stated.
“I assumed it introduced everybody collectively and simply to have the ability to be an athlete there and work together with different athletes is likely one of the funnest issues that I’ve ever completed.”
The 26-year-old stated she “would hope that I get to play” on the Video games.
“And if I do play, I’ve excessive ambitions of myself and I hope that I can do rather well and get a medal,” she stated.
Osaka’s world rating has risen from 831 to 193 since she started her comeback, though she has not gone past the quarter-finals in six tournaments.
She stated she intends to play “a full clay court docket season and possibly a full grass court docket season” over the approaching months.
“I’d hope that I do rather well on one of many clay court docket tournaments and in addition grass,” she stated.
“Actually, I really feel like I’ve improved each match so I believe that’s attainable for me.”
Osaka made just one look for Japan as they beat Kazakhstan 3-1 to qualify for the BJK Cup finals for the primary time.
She beat Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), hitting 15 aces.
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