Naomi Osaka skips New Year at home, touches down early for United Cup in Perth to kickstart 2026 season

Naomi Osaka, steering clear of New Year celebrations at home, has arrived in Perth, Australia, for the 2026 United Cup. The international mixed team tennis event is set to mark the Japanese WTA icon's first competitive outing of the new tennis season.

Osaka, who primarily resides in the USA despite her Japanese roots, was captured on video after landing in Perth. The former World No. 1 was all smiles as she was gifted an adorable soft toy. She was also spotted giving interviews to the Australian media as she gets ready to prepare for the United Cup, which has become one of the most high-profile annual tournaments in the buildup to the Australian Open.

At the 2026 United Cup, which is set to commence from Friday, January 2, Naomi Osaka is slated to lead Japan's charge. However, things aren't likely to be easy for the four-time Major champion, with Japan's group including the likes of Great Britain, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, France and reigning United Cup champions USA.

Osaka's 2025 tennis season was overall a positive one, with the 28-year-old finishing the year as the World No. 16 in women's singles tennis. She could have probably finished even higher in the WTA Tour's singles rankings had a left thigh injury not cut short her 2025 season in the buildup to her quarterfinal outing at the Japan Women's Open in October.

Naomi Osaka won two of her four Grand Slam titles at Australian Open

Naomi Osaka at the 2025 Australian Open (Source: Getty)

Australia has so far been a fantastic country as far as Naomi Osaka's on-court successes are concerned. At the 2019 Australian Open, the Japanese clinched her second Major crown, with her maiden Slam title having come at the 2018 US Open. In the 2019 Melbourne final, Osaka came out on top against the now-retired Petra Kvitova. Following this success, the Japanese said:

"I had dreams that I would win this tournament. Every time I have a dream, somehow I accomplish it. Still, I feel like it's a very strange moment, like it's not necessarily real."

She repeated the feat in 2021, this time after defeating Jennifer Brady in the final in straight sets. This particular success marked Osaka's fourth on the Grand Slam stage.

However, since her return to tennis following her maternity leave, Naomi Osaka's two Australian Open campaigns haven't quite gone according to plan. In 2024, the Japanese suffered a first-round loss, while in 2025, she reached the third round before retiring injured against Belinda Bencic.

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Edited by Sudipto Pati