‘This is why I don’t play doubles’ – Naomi Osaka gives her take on memes taunting singles players in doubles matches

In response to a joke that made fun of singles players’ incompetence during doubles matches, Naomi Osaka sarcastically stated the reason she doesn’t play doubles tennis. She played her last major tournament in September 2022 which was the Japan Open. Osaka left the match in between against Beatriz Haddad Maia due to an injury.

The former World No. 1 announced she was having a baby on January 11, three days after pulling out of the 2023 Australian Open, with her longtime partner Cordae. The couple announced that they were expecting a girl at a gender reveal celebration on June 2.

In April, Osaka revealed her plans to participate in the 2024 Australian Open and expressed confidence in the future of her professional tennis career.

I’ve got that coming in the not-so-distant future: Naomi Osaka

“I’m definitely going to perform well and be a better player than I have been last year. For me, my results just made me want to try harder and be the best that I can be. I’ll be competing in Australia next year,” Naomi Osaka said in an interview with a Japanese sports journalist.

The four-time Grand Slam winner revealed that she will have nearly six months to be ready before returning back to the court. “The baby is due in June or July, so I have August, September, October, November and December. I have almost six months. I want to try to win the Olympics next year,” she asserted.

Osaka also expressed her excitement for her kid to be able to see her get involved in the tour. “I think that moment will be surreal and I really look forward to the day that it actually happens. It really does feel like a dream to think of my own child in the stands watching me, and I’m so excited that I’ve got that coming in the not-so-distant future,” Osaka said in an interview with Today’s Elise Sole.