Retired Australian tennis player Ashleigh Barty announced that she is expecting a baby. The three-time grand slam champion who retired last year shared the news on social media with a message and a picture of her dog next to baby shoes. Barty married her longtime boyfriend Garry Kissick in July 2022.

Barty said:

2023 set to be the best year yet. We are so excited for our new adventure 👶🏼💫
Origi already the protective big sister❤️

After playing tennis for many years, Ashleigh Barty quit tennis at the end of the 2014 US Open to focus on cricket. She returned to tennis in 2016 and won three grand slam singles titles. She also won one doubles grand slam title. She reached the world number one ranking in 2019 and won 15 singles titles in her career. She earned over $23 million in prize money during her career.

Naomi Osaka pulled out of the 2023 Australian Open without giving a reason. Now we know the reason for her withdrawal. Osaka is pregnant and will miss the 2023 season but hopes to be back in 2024. Though she did not reveal the father of the baby, she has been dating singer Cordae Amari Dunston for a few years.

Osaka shared the pregnancy news on social media. 

Many tennis players including Sloane Stephens, Iga Swiatek, Gael Monfils, Ons Jabeur, and Coco Gauff congratulated Osaka on her new journey.

Naomi Osaka is a former world number one. She has won four grand slam titles – two at the Australian Open and two at Wimbledon. Osaka has taken up activism in recent years and uses her big profile as a tennis player to raise awareness about injustice in society and the importance of mental health.