Naomi Osaka has been drawn in the same quarter of the draw as Iga Swiatek in the women’s singles Olympics competition in Tokyo.
Osaka has not played since withdrawing from the French Open amid a battle over her media obligations in early June.
She subsequently pulled out of Wimbledon with similar concerns, but she is set to be a poster girl for the Tokyo games as perhaps the highest profile athlete from the home nation Japan.
Her path to gold will not be easy, though, with 2020 Roland Garros winner Swiatek a potential quarterfinal opponent.
Naomi Osaka will begin against China’s Saisai Zheng, and Kiki Bertens, who will retire at the end of this season, may await her in round three.
Swiatek will does not have an easy path to the last eight herself, with Paulo Badosa and Elise Mertens likely early-round opponents.
Maria Sakkari and Elina Svitolina are potential semi-final foes for Osaka and Swiatek.
World number one Ashleigh Barty dominates the top half of the draw, and she will begin her quest to back hup her Wimbledon win against Sara Torma Sorribes of Spain.
Aryna Sabalenka, Petra Kvitova, and Garbine Muguruza, meanwhile, could stand in Abrty’s way in the semis.
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