Naomi Osaka is currently enjoying her off-season after completing a successful 2025 season. She recently expressed her gratitude for the year she had, especially after facing challenges last year while making her comeback from maternity leave.
Naomi Osaka Reflects on Her Comeback in 2025 During Off-Season
This season, Osaka won one title, the 2025 L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo, where she defeated Kaja Juvan in the final. This victory marked her first title since winning the 2021 Australian Open and her first professional title on clay courts. She also finished as the runner-up twice this season, at the 2025 ASB Classic and the Canadian Open.
The former World No. 1’s best result in Grand Slam tournaments this season came at the 2025 US Open, where she reached the semifinals before falling to eventual runner-up Amanda Anisimova.
After the conclusion of her 2025 season, Osaka has been enjoying her off-season away from the tennis court. She was seen spending time with Taylor Townsend, engaging in watersports, dancing on a yacht, and enjoying other activities.
Recently, Osaka took to social media and expressed that she is “grateful” for her performance and the season she has had.
“At the core of it all you have to be grateful,” Osaka posted on Threads.
Screen grab of Naomi Osaka’s Threads post
Osaka’s last competition on the WTA Tour this season was at the 2025 Japan Women’s Open. She was the top seed and began her campaign by defeating compatriot, wild card Wakana Sonobe in the first round.
In the second round, the four-time Grand Slam champion eliminated defending champion Suzan Lamens. In the quarterfinals, she was scheduled to face Jaqueline Cristian but withdrew from the match due to a left thigh injury sustained during her match against Lamens, thus ending her season prematurely.
Naomi Osaka To Begin Her 2026 Season at United Cup
Osaka will kick off her 2026 season by representing Japan at the United Cup. The Japanese team will be making its tournament debut next year.
The mixed-gender team event is scheduled to take place from January 2 to January 11, 2026. The matches of the tournament will be held in Perth and Sydney at the RAC Arena and the Ken Rosewall Arena, respectively.
Team Japan has been placed in Group E alongside Team Great Britain and Team Greece, and they will compete in Perth. Other teams competing at the RAC Arena include defending champions Team USA, Spain, and Argentina in Group A, as well as Italy, France, and Switzerland in Group C.
The Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney will host matches for Group B, featuring Canada, Belgium, and China; Group D, which includes Australia, the Czech Republic, and Norway; and Group F, comprised of former champion Germany, Poland, and France.
In addition to Osaka, the Japanese team will include two male players and another female player: Nao Hibino, Shintaro Mochizuki, and Yasutaka Uchiyama.
AloJapan.com