The tennis world has been left in shock as Camila Osorio, a 23-year-old Colombian WTA professional, toppled former world number one, Naomi Osaka, in the opening round of the 2025 BNP Paribas Open. This historic victory makes Osorio the first-ever Colombian woman to defeat a previous world number one. The young athlete from Cucuta, Colombia, truly lived up to her words, “Sometimes you need to get out of your comfort zone so you can be a champion.” Let’s delve into the captivating journey of this rising tennis sensation.
Camila Osorio, born on December 22, 2001, comes from a lineage of sports enthusiasts. She’s the granddaughter of Rolando Serrano, a former Colombian national soccer player who participated in the 1962 World Cup. Her father, Carlos, and brother, Sebastian, both have professional soccer careers, while her mother, Adriana, played basketball. Even the family dogs are named after soccer legends Neymar and Messi! However, Osorio’s affection for tennis took root at a tender age. She left her hometown at 11 to join the Club Med academy in Florida in pursuit of her dreams.
Osorio’s remarkable achievements began to manifest at 17 when she clinched the 2019 US Open title in the girls’ single category. The same year, she secured a semi-final place in the junior French Open. Her prowess continued to shine as she ascended to number one in the ITF World Junior rankings. In the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Osorio bagged a bronze medal in the girls’ singles and a silver medal in the mixed doubles event.
The Colombian prodigy made her WTA 1000 debut at the 2021 BNP Paribas Open, marking a significant milestone in her career. Osorio’s 2021 season was indeed noteworthy as she bagged her first WTA title in Bogota and broke into the Top 100. In an emotional moment, she embraced her mother, Adriana, after trouncing Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya in the first round of the Wimbledon Championships. Osorio advanced to the third round, which is her best Grand Slam record to date.
Her impressive performance escalated her to a career-high ranking of number 33 on April 4, 2022. As of now, she holds the 53rd position globally. In 2023, Osorio claimed her second Top 10 win against Carolina Garcia at the Italian Open, following her first against Elina Svitloina at the 2021 Tenerife Open. She clinched her second WTA title at the Bogota Open in 2024, solidifying her status in the tennis world.
Osorio, fondly known to her loved ones as ‘Cami’, shortened her name to Camila Osorio in 2021. Despite growing up in a soccer-dominant country, her passion for tennis was unwavering. She openly admires Roger Federer, whom she reveres as her tennis idol. The Columbian star recalls a heartwarming encounter with Federer at Wimbledon that moved her to tears.
The recent match against Naomi Osaka was a significant one for both players, who were returning after a month-long hiatus from the sport. Osaka had withdrawn from the ASB Classic final and the R3 match at the AO due to injuries. Similarly, Osorio had pulled out from the Merida main draw owing to an abdominal injury. Avenging her 2022 AO defeat to Osaka, Osorio won convincingly with a 6-4,6-4 scoreline in just 1 hour and 31 minutes.
In a post-match interview, an ecstatic Osorio shared, “First, good evening everyone. I’m Camila Osorio. It’s crazy for me, it’s a dream come true… I can’t believe it.” She is set to face Denmark’s Clara Tauson in the second round of the 2025 Indian Wells Masters. The question on everyone’s mind is – how far can Camila Osorio go this tournament?
Let’s watch this Colombian sensation as she continues to create ripples in the world of tennis.