Andy Roddick rooting for 'gift to the game' Naomi Osaka to have major tennis comeback

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Andy Roddick called Naomi Osaka "a gift to the game" and said he would like to see the four-time Grand Slam champion achieve success when she returns to tennis. Osaka, 25, announced in January she would miss the entire 2023 season due to pregnancy.

Recently, Osaka revealed her baby is due in June or July. Also, Osaka hinted she was planning to practice and train for 5-6 months before returning to action at the start of the 2024 season in Australia. "She's such a gift to the game, especially when she's in full flight.

We want her back on her terms and we want her to enjoy this next process of life, what a gift it is. If she does come back, fantastic. If she never plays another point for the rest of her life, she is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and won Grand Slams.

That's locked in. That's never getting taken away. Hopefully, we can see more of it," Roddick said on Tennis Channel.

Osaka is preparing for a major comeback

Christopher Eubanks, who made the Miami Masters quarterfinal in late March, recently met with Osaka on a practice court in Los Angeles.

According to Eubanks, Osaka absolutely still has the game and her shots look as good as ever. "I had the pleasure of practicing with her. I told her, 'Hey, I'm coming to LA' Her first question was, 'Did you bring your rackets?' I said, 'Absolutely'

We got together. She's still striking the ball exceptionally well. I can tell you she's working extremely hard to be able to maximize what she's able to do post-pregnancy and she really wants it. She's coming out motivated and I think it's going to be great for a lot of fans," Eubanks said. In a recent interview, Osaka revealed she would like to win eight more Grand Slams before she retires.