“I found out [I was pregnant] and then I was like ‘Okay, I’m definitely going to be a better player after this,’” she said. “For me it just made me want to try harder and be the best that I can be.”

Osaka plans to begin her comeback at the Australian Open next year. And she has big plans for the remainder of the season as she sets her sights on competing in the Paris Olympic Games.

“I’ll be in Australia next year,” she said. “The baby [will be born in June]… I’ll have six months.”

Osaka believes she can get back to the top of the sport and begin racking up Grand Slam titles again.

“I really want to play again,” Osaka told Matsuoko, as she went on to say that she would like to win “eight” more major titles.

First on the list is the aforementioned Olympic gold medal quest next summer on the red clay in Paris.

“I want to try to win the Olympics next year,” she said. “It makes me very excited to return to the sport.”