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Agence France-Presse

Former world No 1 Naomi Osaka has been given the green light to compete for Japan at next month’s Paris Olympics, the country’s tennis association said on Thursday.
Former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori has also been cleared to play, the Japan Tennis Association said.
Four-time grand slam winner Osaka lit the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Covid-delayed Tokyo Games in 2021, where she went on to make the third round.
She has since become a mother and returned to tennis late last year after a 15-month maternity break.

The 26-year-old is currently ranked 125th in the world.
The singles event at the Olympics is limited to 64 players with a maximum of four from each nation.
The International Tennis Federation cleared her to compete in Paris by awarding her a special ranking for players who have been away from the tour, the JTA said.
She also qualifies as a former grand slam winner, the JTA said.
Nishikori, who has seen his world ranking slip to 286 after a series of injuries, was also given a special ranking that allows him to compete at the Olympics.

Osaka said after playing for Japan in the Billie Jean King Cup in Tokyo in April that she “would love to play” in Paris.
“Growing up watching the Olympics on TV, I felt that it was a celebration of sport,” she said.
“I thought it brought everyone together and just to be able to be an athlete there and interact with other athletes is one of the funnest things that I’ve ever done.
“And if I do play, I have high ambitions of myself and I hope that I can do really well and get a medal,” she added.


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Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Paris Olympics 2024: Naomi Osaka, Kei Nishikori given green light to play tennis for Japan

The International Tennis Federation cleared Osaka to compete in Paris by awarding her a special ranking for players who have been away from the tour. Photo: AFP

Osaka lights the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: Getty Images

Former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori retired hurt in the second round of the recent French Open. Photo: Kyodo

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Four-time grand slam winner and new mum Naomi Osaka returned to the international circuit in Brisbane this month following a 15-month hiatus. Photo: @naomiosaka/Instagram

Naomi Osaka celebrates winning the 2021 Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Getty Images/TNS

Naomi Osaka at the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021. Photo: @naomiosaka/Instagram

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Naomi Osaka of Japan smiles during a post-match on-court interview after defeating Lesia Tsurenko at the US Open. Photo: EPA

Kei Nishikori of Japan celebrates his victory over Marin Cilic of Croatia during their US Open tennis men's singles quarterfinals match on September 5, 2018 in New York. - Nishikori and Naomi Osaka made history at the US Open on Wednesday when they became the first Japanese man and woman to reach the semifinals of the same Grand Slam. (Photo by kena betancur / AFP)

epa06999229 Naomi Osaka of Japan hits a return to Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine during their quarter-final match on the tenth day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2018. The US Open runs from 27 August through 09 September. EPA-EFE/JOHN G. MABANGLO *** Local Caption *** 53000073

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 05: Men's singles semi-finalist Kei Nishikori of Japan and women's singles semi-finalist Naomi Osaka of Japan pose for a portrait outside The Kitano Hotel following their quarter-final matches on day 10 of the 2018 US Open at The Kitano Hotel on September 5, 2018 in New York City. Alex Pantling/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

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The four-time grand slam winner, who lit the cauldron at opening of the Tokyo Games, returned to tennis last year after a maternity break


The four-time grand slam winner, who lit the cauldron at opening of the 2021 Tokyo Games, returned to tennis late last year after a 15-month maternity break.


Paris

Paris Olympics 2024: Naomi Osaka, Kei Nishikori given green light to play tennis for Japan

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}The four-time grand slam winner, who lit the cauldron at opening of the Tokyo Games, returned to tennis last year after a maternity break

The four-time grand slam winner, who lit the cauldron at opening of the Tokyo Games, returned to tennis last year after a maternity break