Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu have been nominated for the WTA Comeback Player of the Year award, highlighting their impressive returns to professional tennis after significant challenges. The WTA announced the nominees this week, featuring the two former Grand Slam champions among the contenders.
Osaka, who missed the entire 2023 season due to pregnancy, made her comeback at the start of 2024. She achieved her best result at the WTA 1000 tournament in Doha, where she reached the quarterfinals. Notably, during her first French Open as a mother, Osaka faced Iga Swiatek in the second round and nearly upset the reigning champion, leading 5-2 in the third set before ultimately losing after squandering a match point. Despite the disappointment, her performance served as a reminder of her past greatness. Later in 2024, she reached the round of 16 at the WTA 1000 in Beijing but had to retire against Coco Gauff due to a back injury. Osaka concluded the season with a 22-18 record and ranked No. 59 in the world.
Raducanu, on the other hand, participated in only five tournaments last year before undergoing surgeries on both wrists and her foot in May 2023. She began her comeback in early 2024, making headlines by reaching her first semifinal since 2022 in Nottingham and securing two top-10 victories. Additionally, she advanced to the round of 16 at Wimbledon, marking her first appearance in the second week of a Grand Slam since 2021. Raducanu’s successful return saw her climb approximately 250 spots in the WTA rankings, finishing the year as world No. 58.
In addition to Osaka and Raducanu, Paula Badosa, Karolina Muchova, and Amanda Anisimova are also in the running for the WTA Comeback Player of the Year award.
Reflecting on her return, Osaka expressed her impatience for immediate success. Having taken a 16-month hiatus from the sport, she acknowledged that her journey back to consistent performance was challenging. “I’m the type of person who wants things to happen quickly,” she said in an interview with The Guardian. “But I’m just understanding that tennis has come such a long way, and these are the best players in the world.” Despite the difficulties, Osaka remains optimistic, attributing her rise to her ambitious mindset. “The people they call crazy are usually the ones that do something really spectacular,” she added.
Raducanu, too, faced injury setbacks but managed to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga, where she finished with a 3-3 record after defeating Jule Niemeier, Rebecca Marino, and Viktorija Hruncakova in straight sets. With a 23-13 record across 13 tournaments in 2024, Raducanu believes her competitive edge is formidable. “I know I’m a dangerous player. I know no one wants to pull my name in the draw,” she stated. Looking ahead, she is eager to maintain her health and performance as she prepares for the upcoming season.
As the WTA awards approach, it remains to be seen who will ultimately be honored as the Comeback Player of the Year.
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