The 2025 tennis season has seen a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences for former world number one, Naomi Osaka. A series of unfortunate events started with her withdrawal from the ASB Classic final due to an abdomen strain. This was closely followed by the same injury compelling her to bow out of the 2025 Australian Open during her match against Belinda Bencic in the third round. A month’s hiatus from the sport due to injury recovery silenced the courts for Osaka. Her return at the Indian Wells Open was not triumphant, but it was an opportunity to encounter defeat at the hands of World number 54, Camila Osorio from Colombia in the first round. The athletic prodigy described it as the “worst match” of her life, but could this low point be the catalyst for a major comeback?
Osaka, a finalist in the 2022 season, recently survived a close call against Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva in the opening round of the 2025 Miami Open. Despite being rusty and underprepared, Osaka pulled through the match lasting 2 hours and 28 minutes, defeating the world number 108 with a score of 3-6,6-4,6-3. This victory was a significant win for Osaka, as it was the first match she won since reaching the third round of the Australian Open in January.
Starodubtseva presented a formidable challenge, soaking up pressure and employing effective tactics to dominate the first set. However, Osaka’s resilience was evident as she managed to turn the tide just in time, even though she committed several double faults in the first set. In a display of her athletic prowess, she ended the match with a remarkable 10 aces.
Reflecting on her match, she attributed her win to her training week in Miami, which helped her acclimate to the weather and improve her stamina and fitness. The four-time Grand Slam winner said, “I mean the process, luckily or not luckily I wish I could have stayed in Palm Springs longer, but I was able to do a training week here in Miami and kind of get used to the weather and just train a lot. So I think I built up a lot of my stamina, my fitness and was able to use that a lot today.”
Up next, Osaka will face Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova. The two have an even head-to-head record, but the anticipation is high to see if Osaka can best the World number 21 in the second round.
However, Osaka’s ambition does not stop at this – she is aiming for larger feats as she progresses through the season. This season, she has a win-loss record of 7-3. Interestingly, last year, she showcased her formidable form against former world number one, Iga Swiatek during the second round of the French Open. Swiatek admitted that the match was intense and filled with amazing tennis. The hunger to compete against top opponents is evident in Osaka’s words, “I want to play with the big dogs so bad and I just see everyone playing so well and I want to do the same. But I have to remember it’s a process.”
When comparing her performance in Indian Wells and Miami, Osaka reflected that she over-hitting a lot in Indian Wells, so she made a conscious effort to use her legs more in Miami. She was determined to compete for three hours if necessary to secure a win.
Despite not having won a title in Miami, Osaka has a deep connection with the venue, considering it her home. She acknowledged the incredible support she received, saying, “They kept me going and I’m glad I won . My mom is here. I’m spending a lot of time with her and my daughter. I’m just happy to keep going here.”
Despite the large gap in the WTA rankings, Naomi Osaka’s extensive experience and her record in this tournament position her as a favourite to win against Samsonova. The question remains – will Osaka conquer the Miami Open this season? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: she’s back, and she’s ready for the challenge.
