Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka is nearing her return to professional tennis. She has been on maternity leave since September 2022 and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl earlier this year. Now, the 4-time Grand Slam champion is eager to resume the second innings of her tennis career. Ahead of her long-awaited return to the sport, former pro tennis player Barbara Schett issued a stern warning to the likes of Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.

Earlier this month, Osaka announced that she will make a comeback at the Brisbane Open. It will serve as a warm-up event before the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, the Australian Open. Here’s what Schett had to say about Osaka’s comeback.

Comeback queen Naomi Osaka might affect Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka’s plans

In an interview with Eurosport, Barbara Schett talked about Naomi Osaka’s comeback. During the interview, she revealed the effect Naomi Osaka’s comeback might have on the likes of Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina. She also referred to Osaka’s golden years while talking about her return to tennis.

Schett said, “We know that she can hit the ball extremely hard, so pace is not going to be a problem at all. And one thing is for sure, an Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka or Elena Rybakina, does not want to play against somebody like Naomi Osaka. The pressure will be on for them.”

Osaka is one of the most successful players on the tour currently. She is a 4-time Grand Slam winner, having lifted the Australian Open and the US Open twice each. Additionally, she has won a host of other big titles. As a result, she will potentially pose a big threat to in-form players like Swiatek and Sabalenka.

Swiatek and Osaka have had a fierce rivalry in tennis. While Osaka’s off-court earnings are one of the highest in women’s tennis, Swiatek once took a sly dig at the Japanese star for this.

What did Swiatek say about Osaka?

During an interview last year, Polish prodigy Iga Swiatek revealed her aim, disregarding the money factor. While speaking out about this, she gave references to some players like Naomi Osaka, who have significant off-court earnings.

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Swiatek said, “I’m glad to see that ranking. Money isn’t my motivation but the tricky thing is I earned it really on court & other players earned it mostly from endorsements so there’s a difference. I feel I can still expand my business a bit.”

The two have faced off against each other twice, with both players winning a game apiece. The two will potentially square off in the upcoming season, in what promises to be an exciting rivalry. All-in-all, it is a win-win for tennis fans.

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