Naomi Osaka Thanks Fans for Their 'Patience' as She Gets Ready for Her Return to Tennis

On the cusp of her return to tennis, Naomi Osaka is tipping her visor to her fans.

“For everyone that supported me throughout the years, thank you,” the new mother, 26, wrote on Instagram Friday. “Thank you for believing in me and thank you for putting up with me.”

She continued, “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). 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.”

The former No. 1 women’s tennis player — who gave birth to her daughter, Shai, with boyfriend Cordae in July — announced in September that she would play the Australian Open in January, her first major tournament since stepping away from the game last year.

Last month, she elaborated on her journey back to competition, sharing with the WTA Tour that she is pumped for her comeback.

“I am really excited about getting back out on court and competing," Osaka said at the time. 

Before playing the major Down Under, the tennis star will compete at the Brisbane International, a WTA 500 event that begins on Dec. 31.

"I always love starting my season in Brisbane and can’t wait to return,” Osaka said. "The Brisbane International is such a great tournament and will set me up for a brilliant comeback this summer.”

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The Brisbane International comes two weeks before the Australian Open starts on Jan. 14.

Osaka, a two-time winner of the Australian Open and a two-time winner of the US Open, hasn’t played tennis since last September’s Toray Pan Pacific Open when she announced she was stepping away from the game during her pregnancy.

But the tennis star has seemingly missed all that comes with being on the court, telling ESPN at the US Open this past September that she had the “itch to want to play again.”

“I feel a lot of joy coming back here. It’s kind of like seeing an old friend I haven’t seen in a long time.” Osaka, who came to watch Coco Gauff play, told ESPN's Chris McKendry about returning to the court. "I went through the little players' tunnel, but obviously, I'm not playing. It made me itch to want to play again, but I guess I'll have to wait until next year."

On Friday, Osaka shared her gratitude — and excitement – at what’s to come in the next few weeks.

“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 wrote.