By Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has been awarded a wild card into the US Open following her return to competitive tennis after a maternity leave. Osaka, who gave birth to her first child in July 2023, resumed playing on the WTA Tour in January 2024. Despite her return, she has yet to progress beyond the quarter-finals in her tournaments this season.
Osaka, who won the US Open in 2018 and 2020, has publicly shared her struggles with depression after withdrawing from the French Open in 2021 and not participating in Wimbledon that same year. She has recently described her experience at the Cincinnati Open qualifying as reminiscent of “being postpartum,” expressing her fears and emotional challenges on Instagram.
In addition to Osaka, former US Open champions Bianca Andreescu and Stan Wawrinka have also received main draw wild cards. Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam winner, is among the notable entries, alongside Dominic Thiem, who announced he will retire at the end of the season due to ongoing wrist issues.
The US Open is set to begin on August 26 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with comprehensive coverage available on Sky Sports Tennis, NOW, and the Sky Sports app.
