Olympic Games in mind? Naomi Osaka to play Billie Jean King Cup for first time since 2020

Japan’s tennis star Naomi Osaka will take part in the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time in four years. The 26-year-old has recently returned to the court after a lengthy break following her pregnancy.

According to a recent report, Osaka will take part in the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time since 2020. The development is a surprising one considering that the former world number one already expressed her desire to take part in the Olympics in the summer.

In the team competition, Japan will face Kazakhstan on April 12 and 13. If the Japanese side managed to win the contest, the future events might clash with the summer Olympics.

Osaka’s return to tennis has not gone down well. In the first Grand Slam of the year, she was knocked out of the first round of the Australian Open after losing to Caroline Garcia with a score of 6-4, 7-6.

She recently took part in the Indian Wells where her journey came to an end as she lost in the round of 32 to Belgium’s Elise Mertens in straight sets with a score of 7-5, 6-4.

Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam winner. She won her first major title in 2018 at the US Open and her last triumph was in 2021 when she lifted the Australian Open.