Sydney, Nov 11: Four-time Grand Slam singles champion and former world No.1 Naomi Osaka is set to return to the tennis circuit, confirming her participation in the Brisbane International as a warm-up to the 2024 Australian Open. Osaka expressed her excitement about the upcoming tournament on social media, emphasizing her anticipation for the return to Brisbane, where she made back-to-back semifinal appearances in 2019 and 2020.
Joining Osaka in the women’s singles competition is two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka, currently ranked world No.22. Azarenka boasts an impressive 15-2 win-loss record at the Brisbane International, clinching the trophy in 2009 and 2016.
On the men’s ATP 250 front, the tournament will feature the presence of former world No.1 and three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray, along with eight-time ATP singles winner and Brisbane International 2017 champion Grigor Dimitrov. Denmark’s rising star Holger Rune, currently ranked 10th in the world, will also showcase his skills at the event, having secured four ATP singles titles.
“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.
Highlighting the commitment of past champions to the tournament, Pearson added, “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.”
The Brisbane International, scheduled from December 31, 2023, to January 7, 2024, will host 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. The women’s singles draw has expanded from 32 to 48 competitors, promising an exciting start to the tennis calendar in 2024.
