(Tokyo) Naomi Osaka, former world No.1 and winner of four Grand Slam tournaments, will be able to play in the Olympic tennis tournament, which will take place from July 27 to August 4 on the clay courts of Roland-Garros , announced the Japanese Federation on Thursday.
“I would love to play, if they allow me,” the Olympic Games, declared the person concerned on April 13 in Tokyo, as part of the Bille Jean King Cup. His wish is granted.
Osaka, 26, lit the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where she was eliminated in the third round.
She was away from the circuit from the end of 2022 for 15 months, a period during which she gave birth to a child, before returning to competition in January. The champion, then above 800th place in the world, has since risen to 125th place.
Despite her ranking still far from the head of the world hierarchy, the International Tennis Federation authorized her to compete in the Olympics thanks to her protected ranking – from which players removed from the circuit for various reasons benefit -, and in her capacity as winner in Grand Slam.
Kei Nishikori, 34, former world No.4 who fell into the depths of the ATP rankings (286th) after a series of injuries and who also benefits from a protected ranking, was selected among the men.
