Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Naomi Osaka faces Marie Bouzkova this Saturday in the Italian Open third round, a clash of resurgence and grit. Osaka began her Rome run with a commanding win over wildcard Sara Errani, then battled past Viktorija Golubic in three sets. Bouzkova, in contrast, has been sharp, dismissing Mayar Sherif and 18th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in straight sets.
Osaka enters with momentum after winning the WTA 125 title at Saint-Malo, her first trophy since the 2021 Australian Open. The four-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 appears to be rediscovering form in 2025. She reached the Auckland final earlier this season before retiring with injury, and though her results dipped from Melbourne through Madrid, her Saint-Malo run marked a confident return.
Bouzkova, ranked No. 53, started strong with a quarterfinal in Brisbane, beating big names like Victoria Azarenka and Jelena Ostapenko before falling to Aryna Sabalenka. Yet inconsistency followed, with only one more quarterfinal at Copa Colsanitas. Her clean wins in Rome, however, suggest she’s locked in and ready to test Osaka’s revival.
Naomi Osaka vs. Marie Bouzkova Head-to-Head Record
Naomi Osaka holds a 2–0 head-to-head lead over Marie Bouzkova. Their rivalry began at the 2020 Australian Open, where Osaka handed the Czech a first-round exit. A year later, the then-defending US Open champion repeated her dominance with a straight-sets win in New York.
Interestingly, both meetings came when Osaka was at the height of her powers, before the struggles that later stalled her momentum. Now, as she fights her way back into form in 2025, Bouzkova faces a familiar challenge: a resurgent Osaka with renewed confidence. The question is whether the Czech can flip the script this time.
YearEventRoundWinnerScore2020Australian OpenRound of 128Naomi Osaka6–2, 6–42021US OpenRound of 128Naomi Osaka6–4, 6–1Naomi Osaka vs. Marie Bouzkova Comparison Naomi OsakaCategoryMarie Bouzkova48Ranking53301-171Career W-L365-21914-5YTD W-L9-87Career Titles14Grand Slams00YTD Titles0Naomi Osaka vs. Marie Bouzkova Prediction
Naomi Osaka holds a 2-0 edge and is regaining momentum, making it exciting to see her tested again on clay, especially after winning her comeback title in Saint-Malo. Bouzkova is a solid clay-courter in strong form, but if Osaka maintains her current level, her power may tip the balance. If not, Bouzkova has every chance to advance.
Prediction: Naomi Osaka in straight sets
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Naomi Osaka vs. Marie Bouzkova Italian Open 2025 Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds according to BetMGM:
Naomi Osaka: 7/4
Marie Bouzkova: 4/9
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