FILE PHOTO: May 29, 2024; Paris, France; Naomi Osaka of Japan keeps her eye on the ball during her match against Iga Świątek of Poland at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo
(Reuters) - Japan's Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori will compete at this year's Olympic Games in Paris, the Japan Tennis Association has announced.
It will be the second Games for the 26-year-old four-times Grand Slam winner Osaka, who finished ninth in the singles at her home Tokyo Games in 2021, where she was also the final torchbearer in the opening ceremony.
The world number 125 will be joined by former U.S. Open finalist Nishikori, ranked 286th, with both eligible under the International Tennis Federation's protected ranking rule.
The 34-year-old Nishikori, who won the bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Games by beating Spain's Rafa Nadal, will make his fifth straight Olympic appearance, the most by a Japanese player.
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Ken Ferris)
