Naomi Osaka in 2025: A Year of Rediscovery

Naomi Osaka entered 2025 carrying more questions than certainty. After a long stretch of uneven form following her time away from the sport, no one really knew where her level would land or what heights she could still reach. And while this year did not answer every lingering doubt, it reminded the world, and most importantly, reminded her, that she still has it.

Naomi Osaka’s 2025 Season Review

Early Setbacks

The season could not have started more unfortunately for the four-time Major champion. Osaka was forced to withdraw early from both of her first tournaments, including the Auckland final and the Australian Open, due to an abdominal strain.

She then spent almost seven weeks away from competition. When she returned, the results did little to steady the ship. A first-round exit at Indian Wells and a tight three-set loss to Jasmine Paolini in Miami did not help her ranking or her fragile confidence.

Determined to rediscover her footing, Osaka made the surprising decision to enter a WTA series 125 event for the first time in a decade. She ended up winning the title, her first at any level since her return. The matches helped build her rhythm, but results on the WTA main tour still lagged, as she ended her natural surface summer with a combined 6–6 record on the red clay and grass.

Questions grew louder. Confidence dropped further. Her emotions in press conferences often got the better of her, and a player once known for her presence seemed increasingly timid.

The Hard Courts Return

Osaka has always been a player of confidence and streaks. She never brought the week-to-week consistency of an Iga Swiatek or an Aryna Sabalenka, nor did she dominate across all surfaces. But on hard courts, she could go toe to toe with anyone because her best on that surface was good enough to trouble the very best.

Her favorite hard courts finally returned. After a disappointing outing in Washington, she ended her partnership with Patrick Mouratoglou. Tomasz Wiktorowski stepped in, and from that moment on, Osaka looked like a different player.

Montreal became the turning point. Osaka came back from the brink in her first match and then went on a run of nine consecutive sets won. Suddenly the almost written off champion was one set away from a big title. She fell short in the final to Victoria Mboko, but the belief in her game was back.