Naomi Osaka has shown some encouraging signs ahead of the US Open this year.
Osaka is a two-time US Open champion, but has not been past the third round of a Grand Slam tournament since winning the 2021 Australian Open.
The former world number one has recently made a big decision, with Osaka parting ways from coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Since splitting from Mouratoglou, Osaka has been trialling with Iga Swiatek’s former coach and has seen some rewards already ahead of the US Open.
Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty ImagesNaomi Osaka is getting closer to becoming seeded for the US Open
Osaka has reached the Canadian Open quarterfinals in her first tournament working with Tomasz Wiktorowski.
After beating the likes of Liudmila Samsonova, Jelena Ostapenko and Anastasija Sevastova, Osaka has risen up in the live WTA rankings to world number 34.
This could be hugely significant ahead of the US Open, where the top 32 players will be seeded.
Osaka is just 75 ranking points behind the player currently in that 32nd live ranking spot in Dayana Yastremska, and will overtake the Ukrainian if she reaches the Canadian Open semifinals.
Live WTA ranking pointsRanking points defending from 2024 before the US OpenMinimum ranking points before the US OpenDayana Yastremska1504 (No.32)201484 (Would currently rank No.32)Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova1459 (No.33)3151144 (Would currently rank No.53)Naomi Osaka1429 (No.34)851344 (Would currently rank No.41)
The Japanese superstar only has 85 ranking points to defend before the US Open, which is very minimal given the number of ranking points Osaka can gain in Montreal and Cincinnati.
Osaka actually only needs to be ranked 33rd to be seeded for the New York major, as world number six Qinwen Zheng has already withdrawn from the US Open.
Naomi Osaka’s recent Grand Slam draws show why she needs to be seeded for the US Open
Osaka being seeded for the US Open feels particularly important given some of her recent Grand Slam results.
After giving birth to her daughter, Shai, Osaka returned to tennis at the start of 2024 and has been unable to surpass the third round of any major tournament.
Osaka has been unseeded for all of these Grand Slams and has faced some very challenging early matches.
Being unseeded means that players are guaranteed to have a seeded player in their draw for at least the first or second round.
The most obvious example of this happening was at Roland Garros in 2024, where Osaka lost to top seed Iga Swiatek in the second round.
Whereas if you are seeded, you are ensured not to play a seeded player until at least the third round.
Osaka has lost to a seeded player at four of her last seven Grand Slam tournaments in either the first or second round, and needs to make sure this does not happen again at the US Open.
Grand SlamNaomi Osaka’s MatchesAustralian Open 2024First Round – Caroline Garcia (16) beat Osaka, 6-4 7-6(2)Roland Garros 2024First Round – Osaka beat Lucia Bronzetti, 6-1 4-6 7-6
Second Round – Iga Swiatek (1) beat Osaka, 7-6(1) 1-6 7-5Wimbledon 2024First Round – Osaka beat Diane Parry, 6-1 1-6 6-4
Second Round – Emma Navarro (19) beat Osaka, 6-4 6-1US Open 2024First Round – Osaka beat Jelena Ostapenko (10), 6-3 6-2
Second Round – Karolina Muchova beat Osaka, 6-3 7-6(5)Australian Open 2025First Round – Osaka beat Caroline Garcia, 6-3 3-6 6-3
Second Round – Osaka beat Karolina Muchova (20), 1-6 6-1 6-3
Third Round – Belinda Bencic beat Osaka, 7-6(3) (Osaka retired)Roland Garros 2025First Round – Paula Badosa (10) beat Osaka, 6(1)-7 6-1 6-4Wimbledon 2025First Round – Osaka beat Talia Gibson, 6-4 7-6(4)
Second Round – Osaka beat Katerina Siniakova, 6-3 6-2
Third Round – Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Osaka, 3-6 6-4 6-4
If Osaka is able to reach the final of the Canadian Open, she will all but confirm her place as a seed at a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2022 Australian Open.
However, she is not the only player bidding to achieve this, with many players including Emma Raducanu also attempting to be seeded for the US Open.
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