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Four-time major champion Naomi Osaka is all set to return to action with the Silicon Valley Classic slated to begin on August 1 in San Jose. Osaka has got a wild card entry into the tournament with top players already a part of it. Notably, Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, World No.5 Ons Jabeur, American teen Coco Gauff and 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu will be also featuring in the WTA tournament.
Naomi Osaka who has not played much this year will be playing her first tournament after the Roland Garros. The 24-year-old Japanese tennis star pulled out of Wimbledon with an Achilles injury. The former World no.1 was offered a wild card entry which she gleefully accepted and the tournament’s director Vickie Gunnarsson is pretty pleased about it.
“We are very excited to have Naomi Osaka returning to the Bay Area,” tournament director Vickie Gunnarsson said. “She made her WTA debut at our event and watching her grow both on and off the court has been amazing.” Gunnarsson added, “She is not only an incredible player but her commitment to equality and social change is truly inspiring.”
Notably, Naomi Osaka made her WTA main-draw debut at the tournament in 2014 when the event was held at Stanford University. Then 16, the No.406-ranked Osaka was an alternate into qualifying and successfully advanced to her first main draw. There, Osaka saved match point to power through Sam Stosur, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5. This will be Osaka's first appearance since the event moved to San Jose.
Talking about the tournament, the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic has a rich history as a groundbreaking event. Co-founded by Billie Jean King, the tournament was the first event of the historic 1971 women's professional tennis tour, a precursor to the WTA.
Tennis legends including Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Andrea Jaeger, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, Venus Williams, and Kim Clijsters have featured in the tournament.