Naomi Osaka has continued her poor run of form into the Berlin Tennis Open, where she lost her opener to Liudmila Samsonova.
Osaka clearly struggles against top opponents, with the four-time Grand Slam champion losing 6-3, 6-7(3-7), 4-6 to Samsonova.
The former once reached number one in the WTA rankings, but Osaka has just dropped five places to world number 57.
Osaka has committed to US Open mixed doubles, but her current focus will be on the grass court season as opposed to hard.
It is, however, hard courts that have played host to all four of the 27-year-old’s career Grand Slam titles, all of which came between 2018 and 2021.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesAndy Roddick tells Naomi Osaka what to do next after early Berlin exit
Her fellow former world number one Andy Roddick has now shared his take on her current situation, saying on Tennis Channel Live: “When she came back last year I thought she was making strides right around Indian Wells and Miami and I thought she would be cruising towards the top 20.
“I think it has probably taken a little bit longer than all of us expected. I think she is probably frustrated by it.
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“She has lost a couple of tight matches. A bunch of three setters. But let’s remember she has only made it past the round of 16 of hard court slams.
“So the clay and the grass, I don’t know if that was the measure of her success even when she was prime Naomi Osaka. Hopefully she keeps going and finds that pacing. There’s just no reason she can’t play well on grass.
“I think she has to focus on that first stroke tennis, maybe move her serve around a bit more, take some chances on the second serve so her movement does not get exposed so often.”
“I thought she’d be cruising toward the top 20. It’s probably taken a little bit longer than all of us expected” 🤷#TCLive discusses Naomi Osaka’s ongoing comeback after her first round Berlin exit pic.twitter.com/k9tLNVlgeC
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) June 17, 2025
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Tracy Austin joins Andy Roddick in sharing Naomi Osaka surprise
Osaka’s latest defeat comes immediately after her struggles at the French Open, where she fell in the first round to Paula Badosa.
She did, however, reach the last 16 of the Italian Open before Roland Garros, and even won a WTA 125 title in Saint Malo before that.
READ MORE: Naomi Osaka’s coach suggests what WTA players should do if they want to be ‘treated equally’ at Grand Slams
But it is her form at the highest level that has caused concern, with her win-loss record for 2025 now sitting at 17-7.
Tracy Austin, another player who reached number one in the world rankings, couldn’t help but agree with Roddick’s assessment.
She said: “I have got to be honest, I did not think it would take this long for someone who has won four majors and has been so committed, working with Patrick Mouratoglou.
“She works so hard when she has lost, she goes back to the academy there. I am super proud of Naomi to try and play better on the clay.
“She has never felt comfortable on the grass, lost second round at Wimbledon last year to Emma Navarro.
ResultYearTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreWin2018US OpenHardSerena Williams6–2, 6–4Win2019Australian OpenHardPetra Kvitova7–6(7–2), 5–7, 6–4Win2020US OpenHardVictoria Azarenka1–6, 6–3, 6–3Win2021Australian OpenHardJennifer Brady6–4, 6–3Naomi Osaka Grand Slam finals
“She can’t wait for the summer to happen. But I would have thought by now, that match point she had against Iga at the French that is maybe where it could have turned.
“And I just think she is starting to have some doubt because she is losing 6-4 in the third, 7-5 in the third. Your aura is lost a little and others think I can beat her. That is a tough situation for her to be in right now.”
AloJapan.com