Australian Open to welcome back mums Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Caroline Wozniacki

Shahida Jacobs
Naomi Osaka speech

The 2024 Australian Open is shaping up to be the return of the “Grand Slam-winning mums” as a trio of former world No 1s are set to feature in the main draw after missing this year’s event.

Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley revealed in his traditional October press conference that three former Australian Open champions will be back in the women’s draw next year as two-time winner Naomi Osaka, 2016 champion Angelique Kerber and 2018 winner Caroline Wozniacki will make their comebacks.

Four-time major champion Osaka withdrew from this year’s Australian Open after announcing on the eve of the tournament that she is expecting her first child. The Japanese star gave birth to a baby girl named Shai in July.

Kerber, meanwhile, announced her break from tennis in August 2022 as she revealed that she was pregnant before giving birth to her daughter Liana in February.

“We’re gonna welcome back players we know that this is their favourite place to play. But not only that, they’ve had great success here,” Tiley said.

“Naomi Osaka, really excited about her coming back. Angie Kerber, who’s been out of it. And they’ve all given birth to their first child and really excited for them.”

Wozniacki famously retired after the 2020 Australian Open and gave birth to two children – a daughter named in Olivia in June 2021 and a son named James in October the following year.

In June this year she announced her comeback to tennis. The Dane made her return during the North American hard-court swing – reaching the fourth round at the US Open before losing to eventual champion Coco Gauff.

Tiley added: “And of course, Caroline Wozniacki, who won her only Grand Slam here at the Australian Open, very exciting moment for her. So great to have them back and we know they’ve all been training and ready to play, and we’ll give it a great start in January.”

Osaka and Kerber will be able to use their protected rankings to get into the main draw of the Australian Open while Wozniacki will more than likely receive a wildcard.

Fellow mothers Victoria Azarenka, Elina Svitolina and Tatjana Maria are also set to be in the 2024 Australian Open line-up.

Former Grand Slam doubles champion and tennis commentator Casey Dellacqua is excited about the return of Osaka, Kerber and Wozniacki.

“The mums are back. The mums are ready to be on court, and as you said, I think, those three players [Osaka, Kerber and Wozniacki] have all had such great success at the Australian Open, in particular. So I think that is a really exciting kind of pace,” Dellacqua said on The AO Show podcast.