Naomi Osaka to make tennis comeback at Brisbane International

Organizers of the Brisbane International confirmed on Friday that four-time Grand Slam singles champion and former world No.1 Naomi Osaka will make her return to tennis in Queensland as a warm-up to the 2024 Australian Open.

"First tournament next year, so excited, I haven't been to Brisbane in a while," Osaka, who made back-to-back semifinal appearances at the tournament in 2019 and 2020, wrote on social media.

Two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka will join Osaka in the women's singles competition. Currently ranked world No.22, Azarenka has a 15-2 win-loss record at the Brisbane International, lifting the trophy in 2009 and 2016.

Meanwhile, in the men's ATP 250 field, former world No.1 and three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray will step into the Queensland Tennis Centre, alongside eight-time ATP singles winner and Brisbane International 2017 champion Grigor Dimitrov.

The tournament will also feature Denmark's 20-year-old Holger Rune, who sits 10th in the world rankings and has four ATP singles titles to his name.

"We are really excited to welcome Naomi Osaka, Andy Murray, Victoria Azarenka, Holger Rune and Grigor Dimitrov to Brisbane in 2024 and know the atmosphere of watching these top players will be thrilling this summer," said Cam Pearson, Brisbane International Tournament Director.

"Victoria, Andy and Grigor are all past Brisbane International champions, so to have them confirmed this early shows their commitment to the tournament and how much players love coming back to Queensland," Pearson noted.

"We are also thrilled to have one of the world's best young players, Holger Rune, confirmed for the Brisbane International. The 20-year-old has had an incredible year, reaching world No.4 in August and next week has his eyes set on winning the 2023 ATP Finals, under new coach Boris Becker," the tournament director added.

Running from December 31 to January 7, 2024, the Brisbane International involves 180 of the
world's top players.The men's singles draw includes 32 players, with a 24-pair draw in both men's and women's doubles, while the women's singles draw has expanded from 32 to 48 competitors.(UNI)<>