Osaka Backed To Be In Top 10 By End Of 2024 By Coach Macci

Tuesday, 25 July 2023 at 03:50

Updated at Monday, 11 August 2025 at 14:08

byZachary Wimer

Former coach of Serena Williams, Rick Macci, is backing Naomi Osaka for a very strong return to the WTA Tour in 2024.

Naomi Osaka spent much of this year sidelined thanks to her pregnancy, as she made a surprise announcement this year. It came after she withdrew from the Australian Open, and as of recently, Osaka is officially a mother as she gave birth to her first child, and it's been a happy time for her.

She spent much of her pregnancy away from the spotlight, which helped her, considering her mental health struggles in the past. The Japanese player is now back to training only weeks after giving birth, which excited many fans about her return, which could possibly come sooner than expected.

Since the start of the pregnancy, Osaka calmed down fans, admitting that she's excited about coming back to tennis, even though her comeback likely won't take place before 2024.

The Australian Open seems to be her target event, and famed tennis coach Rick Macci is backing her for a strong return.

She was the best player in the world for a while, being almost unbeatable on hard courts. If she can find that level again, she will certainly be dangerous again and, according to Macci, in the Top 10 by the end of next year's season.

"Naomi Osaka, by the end of 2024, will be in the Top 10. She has four Slams in her back pocket has been number one. Her serve is one of the best, and she has the juice on both wings. The wildcard is belief and hunger, and I know she believes and is very motivated."

Time will tell whether Macci is right, but there aren't many coaches who have a better roster of players they have coached, including the greatest female tennis player of all time, Serena Williams.