Japan's tennis star Naomi Osaka confirmed to play at Paris 2024

Four-time tennis Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka will compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the Japan Tennis Association announced on Thursday (13 June).

The former world number one has been selected along with former US Open finalist Key Nishikori to represent Japan in Paris, which will be her second Olympics. Osaka previously competed at her home Games in Tokyo 2020 held in 2021, where she lit the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony.

The 26-year-old, who is currently ranked 125th, was awarded a special ranking from the International Tennis Federation and also qualifies as a former Grand Slam winner, the JTA said.

Osaka is fulfilling a key goal of hers, having already expressed her desire to compete at Paris 2024 back in April. Speaking at the Billie Jean Cup in Tokyo, she said, “I would love to play. Growing up watching the Olympics on TV, I felt that it was a celebration of sport.

“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.”

Since competing in Tokyo, Osaka spent some time away from tennis with maternity leave following the birth of her daughter in 2023.

She finished ninth in the women’s singles competition at the last Games in Tokyo, as she now prepares to head to the Stade Roland- Garros in Paris in July. The women’s singles competition begins on 27 July 2024.