The 2025 season has been full of ups and downs for the former world number one, Naomi Osaka. After having to withdraw from the ASB Classic final because of an abdomen strain, the Japanese suffered the same fate in the 2025 AO, as she couldn’t complete her match against Belinda Bencic in the third round because of the same injury. Osaka missed all the events in February due to her injuries. And, her comeback at the Indian Wells Open didn’t go well either, as her journey was cut short by the World number 54, Camila Osorio (COL) in the first round. Osaka called it the “worst match” she ever played in her life. But has the Indian Wells exit now turned into a blessing in disguise for her?
The 2022 finalist, Naomi Osaka recently survived a first-round scare against Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva in the first round (R128) of the 2025 Miami Open. She took 2 hours and 28 minutes to beat the world number 108, by 3-6,6-4,6-3 in that match. Before this victory, Osaka hadn’t won a match since reaching the third round of the AO in January. Even in this match, she looked a bit rusty at the start. Starodubtseva looked well-prepared and her tactics were bang on in the first set.
The Ukrainian soaked up all the pressure in the initial phase of the game and was also able to open the court with sliced backhands. Even in the second set, Starodubtseva came up with a strong challenge, but Osaka pulled things back on track just in time. Although the Japanese committed quite a few double faults in the first set, she managed to end this match by hitting 10 aces. What did she have to say after the match?
“I mean the process, luckily or not luckily I wish I could have stayed in Palm Springs longer, but I was able to do a training week here in Miami and kind of get used to the weather and just train a lot. So I think I built up a lot of my stamina, my fitness and was able to use that a lot today,” the 4-time GS winner remarked.
Naomi brings the HEAT in Miami! @naomiosaka is into the next round after defeating Starodubtseva 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/xGJYxgSBfB
— wta (@WTA) March 18, 2025
Next up for the Japanese ace is Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova. Osaka currently has a H2H record of 1-1 against the Russian. Can she get the better of the World number 21 in the second round? Time will tell!
But one thing is for sure: Naomi Osaka doesn’t want to stop here, she has bigger targets in her mind going forward in the season.
“I want to play with the big dogs so bad” – Naomi Osaka is hungry to get back to her vintage form
Naomi Osaka has a win-loss record of 7-3 this season. She’s yet to face any top opponent in 2025. Last year, we saw glimpses of her vintage form against the former world number one, Iga Swiatek in the second round of the French Open. It took the Pole three sets to beat Osaka that time. In the post-match interview, Swiatek admitted, “That was intense, more intense than I expected for a second-round match. We played some amazing tennis.” And, Osaka is capable of playing even better than that, as we have seen in the past.
The 27-year-old is now hungry to bring out her A-game against top opponents. Shortly after securing her first-round victory in Miami, she said, “I want to play with the big dogs so bad and I just see everyone playing so well and I want to do the same. But I have to remember it’s a process.”
What was the difference in her first-round performance in Indian Wells and Miami though? “[In Indian Wells] I was just over-hitting a lot, so I tried to use my legs. I was going to run into every corner if I had to, and we were going to have to play for three hours if she was going to beat me.”
How special is Miami as a venue for Naomi Osaka? Although she’s yet to win a title here, she remarked, “I consider Miami my home.” Talking about the incredible support she added, “They kept me going and I’m glad I won . My mom is here. I’m spending a lot of time with her and my daughter. I’m just happy to keep going here.”
Despite being placed 40 places behind Samsonova in the WTA rankings, Naomi Osaka’s vast experience on the women’s Tour and her record in this tournament makes her a favorite to win this contest. Do you think Osaka can go all the way and clinch the Miami Open this season?
The post “Luckily or Not”- Turning Indian Wells Setback Into Strength, Naomi Osaka Sees Silver Lining at Miami Open appeared first on EssentiallySports.
