It meant a lot to Naomi Osaka to make it to her first semi-final since having a mother, especially considering her previous season.
In 2024, the four-time Grand Slam champion made a comeback to the tennis scene following the birth of her daughter Shai. Although she had high expectations for her comeback, she never advanced past the quarterfinals in the previous 12 months.
Osaka wasn’t satisfied with her performance even though she raised her ranking considerably and occasionally played some outstanding tennis, earning her a nomination for the 2024 WTA Comeback Player of the Year title, which went to Paula Badosa.
She aspired to win important matches and compete for the largest trophies. Because of this, she made a suggestion prior to the 2025 season that she might take a vacation from the sport if she doesn’t get the desired results.
The former WTA World No. 1 player had a fantastic run at the 2025 ASB Classic in Auckland, which is her first tournament of the season. Fortunately for tennis fans, that now appears to be less likely to happen.
In 2017, Osaka advanced to the Auckland quarterfinals before retiring during the match against Ana Konjuh. She went one step farther this year, defeating Hailey Baptiste, Julia Grabher, and Lina Glushko to get to the round of four.
This run was significant to Osaka because she showed herself that she was still capable of winning. After her victory in the quarterfinals, she acknowledged that she had continued to progress since 2024.
“To be honest, absolutely, considering how difficult it was for me to produce outcomes last year. To launch with a bang at the first event of the year, in my opinion, proves that—I don’t want to say it wasn’t for nothing—last year’s success was a continuation of the growth.
Osaka occasionally keeps a small notebook with her while playing.
She also wrote something in Auckland that led to a query about her notebook, but she didn’t want to talk about it too much because it was personal.
Other than me, it doesn’t really make sense. However, I was essentially telling myself to keep trying to hit the shots I know I’ll need to make in Melbourne and to play the style I want to play there no matter what.”
Rain caused problems at the WTA 250 event in New Zealand, so Osaka is still unaware of who she will face in the semi-finals. The Japanese player has a minor edge because she is fresh for the match between Alycia Parks and Katie Volynets on the day of the semi-final.
Similar circumstances faced Osaka before her quarterfinal match; the weather affected the play, and she was unsure if she would face Jodie Burrage or Baptiste.
It’s interesting because when I woke up, I had no idea who I was going to portray. I had to check, which is how I found out that their match was so late. So, yes, I believe I knew. Additionally, I felt terrible because getting hurt at the year’s first competition is terrible.
“I hate to say it, but I would have rather seen her play a longer game than a shorter one. I therefore realized that the longer it lasted, the less advantageous it was to me.
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