Comeback stories collide as Badosa meets Osaka in a high-stakes opener.
Naomi Osaka serves in the first set to Camila Osorio during their round one singles match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Osorio won.
World No. 10 Paula Badosa will face four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka for the first time in a blockbuster first-round clash at the 2025 French Open. The full main draw was revealed this Thursday, with the tournament set to begin on May 25. The women’s event runs through June 7, with the men’s final wrapping up the fortnight on June 8.
Osaka arrives at Roland Garros riding a wave of momentum after ending a four-year title drought at the WTA 125 L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo, where she defeated Kaja Juvan in straight sets. The former world No. 1, whose last title came at the 2021 Australian Open, has spent recent seasons navigating injuries, maternity leave, and mental health challenges. Her Saint-Malo triumph marks a meaningful step in her comeback.
Badosa, meanwhile, reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at the 2025 Australian Open, highlighted by a commanding straight-sets win over Coco Gauff. The Osaka vs. Badosa matchup was originally expected in Rome, but the Spaniard withdrew due to ongoing back issues, a problem that has also kept her out of Charleston, Stuttgart, and Madrid this season.
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Naomi Osaka vs. Paula Badosa Preview
For Badosa, 2025 began with a surge: a career-best Grand Slam semifinal in Melbourne, knocking out Coco Gauff along the way. But since then, her season has been stop-start. Quarterfinals in Merida and Strasbourg showed flashes of form, yet chronic back issues have kept her off the clay and out of rhythm.
With withdrawals from Charleston, Stuttgart, Madrid, and Rome, she’s barely had time to find her footing on the surface. And outside those three standout runs, she hasn’t gone beyond the round of 32. Her 12-7 record, 92 aces, and 70.7% first-serve win rate show she’s still dangerous, but can she sustain it?
Across the net, Naomi Osaka brings her own narrative, a four-time Slam champion, back on tour. She made the final in Auckland before an abdominal injury forced her to pull out, then went quiet, early exits, including a stumble in Madrid.
But Saint-Malo changed that. Her first title since 2021, declaring that she’s still here, still swinging. Most recently, she went toe-to-toe with Peyton Stearns in Rome, falling in three gritty sets. With a 17-6 record, 128 aces, and a 73.6% first-serve win rate, Osaka’s weapons are very much intact.
Naomi Osaka vs. Paula Badosa Head-to-Head Record
Naomi Osaka and Paula Badosa do not have a head-to-head yet.
Naomi Osaka vs. Paula Badosa Comparison Naomi Osaka CategoryPaula Badosa49Ranking10304-172Career W-L373-20617-6YTD W-L12-77Career Titles44Grand Slams00YTD Titles0
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Naomi Osaka vs. Paula Badosa Prediction
If Badosa is fully fit, her clay-court game and defensive skills give her a strong chance. However, Osaka’s recent momentum and superior serve could tilt the match her way. It’s a tight call, but Osaka has a slight edge.
Prediction: Naomi Osaka in straight sets
Naomi Osaka vs. Paula Badosa French Open 2025 Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds according to BetMGM:
Naomi Osaka: 22/25
Paula Badosa: 22/25
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