As the clay-court season peaks in Paris, Naomi Osaka heads into the 2025 French Open with renewed purpose and growing momentum. The Japanese superstar, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has long held an uneasy relationship with the red clay of Roland-Garros. Yet this year, Osaka arrives ready to challenge old narratives and test her evolving game on one of tennis’s most demanding stages.
Signs of Progress
Naomi Osaka, ranked No. 49 as of May 2025, has shown promising signs in her comeback season following a 15-month maternity break after her daughter, Shai, was born in July 2023.
Her 2025 campaign began with a bang, reaching the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland—her first since 2022—before retiring due to an abdominal injury. At the Australian Open, she powered into the third round, defeating Caroline Garcia and 20th seed Karolína Muchová, only to retire against Belinda Bencic due to injury.
Osaka has made significant strides on clay. The slow, gritty surface has long been her Achilles’ heel, with no French Open run beyond the third round in her career. Yet, 2024 marked a turning point: she won her first Roland Garros match in three years against Lucia Bronzetti (6-1, 4-6, 7-5) and nearly upset world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in a second-round epic, holding a match point before falling 7-6(1), 1-6, 7-5. That match, one of the tournament’s finest, showcased her growing comfort on clay.
In 2025, Osaka’s clay campaign hit new heights. She claimed the WTA 125 L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo title, her first trophy since the 2021 Australian Open and a landmark win on clay. At the Italian Open, she won consecutive three-setters before a narrow loss to Peyton Stearns in a final-set tiebreak, snapping an eight-match clay winning streak—her career-best on the surface. A first-round loss to Bronzetti in Madrid was a hiccup, but her overall clay record this year (including a 6-4, 6-1 rout of Marta Kostyuk in Rome) reflects a player adapting to the surface’s demands.
Osaka has openly admitted that clay hasn’t been her favourite surface for much of her career. The slow courts, high bounces, and grinding rallies contrast sharply with the fast, hard courts where she’s established her legacy.
Deep runs have proven elusive in past French Open appearances, and the second week remains a hurdle to be cleared. But 2025 presents a fresh opportunity.
Her approach this clay season has blended her trademark power with new layers of strategy and patience. She’s improved her court positioning, added variety with drop shots and angled forehands, and shown a greater willingness to construct points rather than force quick winners.
Most importantly, her mindset has shifted. In pre-tournament press conferences, Osaka expressed a new appreciation for clay’s unique challenge.
The Draw and Potential Road Ahead
Unseeded this year, Osaka faces a tricky path in Paris. A difficult early draw could pit her against clay-court veterans or rising stars, but her ability to dictate points with her serve and aggressive baseline play makes her a dangerous opponent for anyone.
Osaka has the firepower to disrupt even the most seasoned clay-courters if she can find her rhythm and adjust to the conditions. A potential second-week appearance isn’t out of reach — and if she hits top form, a headline-grabbing upset or two could light up the women’s draw.
Why Naomi Osaka Matters at Roland-Garros
Beyond her on-court skills, Osaka’s presence at the French Open carries meaning. She remains one of the sport’s most influential voices, using her platform to advocate for mental health awareness and social issues. Her return to Roland-Garros after previous withdrawals and challenges marks a testament to resilience and personal growth.
Osaka enters the 2025 French Open as a wildcard in the truest sense — unseeded, unpredictable, and capable of brilliance. While she enters the 2025 French Open as a dangerous floater, her enhanced clay game, mental strength, and raw power make her a threat to go deep, but injuries and clay’s demands temper expectations. A fourth-round run, potentially upsetting a top seed, is a realistic target. A title may be a step too far this year, but Osaka’s Roland Garros campaign will lay crucial groundwork for her career Grand Slam ambitions.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
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