"Thank you for believing in me and thank you for putting up with me": Naomi Osaka pens heartfelt letter as 'Chapter 2' of tennis career set to begin

Naomi Osaka penned a heartfelt message for her fans, expressing gratitude for the support she has received throughout her career. The former world No. 1 announced that she is "very honored" to embark on a new chapter in her career just two weeks ahead of her return at the Brisbane International and her upcoming comeback at the 2024 Australian Open.

The 4-times Grand Slam champion is in the final stages of preparation for her return to the WTA Tour after a 16-month hiatus due to her pregnancy. Osaka is eager to come back, compete at the highest level, and regain the form that earned her Grand Slam victories each year between 2018 and 2021.

Osaka took to her social media platforms to express gratitude for the support from her fans. In her message, she acknowledged that there were things in the past she would have liked to handle differently: "For everyone that supported me throughout the years, Thank you. Thank you for believing in me and thank you for putting up with me. I know we’ve shared some really amazing memories and I also know that I’ve done some things that I wish I would’ve handled differently (lol)," Naomi Osaka wrote.

"Regardless of all that, thank you for allowing me to grow up on my own time and thank you for showing me a ton of patience. I don’t know what I did to deserve you all but I’m so extremely grateful. Very honored to be going on chapter 2 of this tennis journey together and I’m so excited to see you guys next year," she added.

After her victory at the 2021 Australian Open, Osaka experienced a period of inconsistency due to mental health issues. These challenges led her to withdraw from the French Open, acknowledging that speaking to the press caused her 'huge anxiety' and prompting her decision to skip media obligations during the tournament.

During that year, she was absent for a significant part of the season and only returned to play at the Cincinnati Open and the US Open. In 2022, she opted out of several tournaments and struggled to achieve notable results, with the exception of reaching the final at the Miami Open, where she was defeated by Iga Swiatek. Osaka's last appearance was at the Tokyo Open, where she withdrew before the second-round match against Beatriz Haddad Maia.