A champion’s return is never a straight line. Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, is pushing boundaries post-maternity. Her 2024 season was a testament to her determination, as she competed in 16 tournaments to rediscover her former World No. 1 form. Starting in 2025, guided by Patrick Mouratoglou’s unconventional coaching methods, she reached the Auckland finals but faced a setback with an abdominal injury. Now, as she transitions to clay courts, Mouratoglou’s practice sessions aren’t letting up. The cost? Her sneakers.
The Sunshine Double painted a mixed picture of Osaka’s comeback. At Indian Wells, she fell to Camila Osorio in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, in the first round. Miami brought a brighter narrative. She made it to the third round and battled back against Hailey Baptiste, whom she defeated with a 6-7, 6-3, 4-6 to pave her way to the round of 16. Though her Miami run ended there, it offered glimpses of her past brilliance.
Osaka is now back on the practice courts ahead of the clay season. On Friday, she posted a reel showcasing her footwork drills with Mouratoglou, captioned hilariously: “RIP to my shoes.” In the clip, Patrick explained his training idea: “The goal is to slide. So start to slide before you slide… and then you play. Then you run, okay?” Frustrated but determined, Naomi executed the drill with visible effort.
Clay has always been a challenge for Osaka—a surface requiring finesse over power. Roland Garros has tested her adaptability over the years. Still, her progress at the 2024 Italian Open hinted at improvement. Mouratoglou’s coaching philosophy emphasizes self-expression and unlocking potential beyond mechanics. “It’s my challenge to bring her back to her best level,” he declared confidently when their partnership was announced.
With past victories against top-20 players like Marta Kostyuk and Daria Kasatkina on clay, Naomi’s evolution is clear. Now, with her shoes paying the price for greatness, Osaka is gearing up for another shot at mastering the red dirt. The finish line isn’t far as she’s already proclaimed her goal for this season.
Naomi Osaka sets sights on reclaiming her former glory
The former World No.1 has had a solid start to her 2025 season, with a 7-3 win-loss record so far. However, she’s yet to face any top-ranked opponents this year. Last season, she gave fans a glimpse of her vintage form during an intense second-round clash against Iga Swiatek at the French Open. The match went three sets, with Swiatek narrowly edging Osaka 7-6, 1-6, 7-5. Afterward, Swiatek admitted, “That was intense, more intense than I expected for a second-round match. We played some amazing tennis.” Osaka’s performance showed she’s capable of even more when fully in rhythm.
The Miami Open brought mixed emotions for Osaka. After a first-round victory, she expressed her hunger to compete against the best. “I want to play with the big dogs so bad,” she said. “I just see everyone playing so well, and I want to do the same. But I have to remember it’s a process.” Reflecting on her earlier struggles at Indian Wells, she explained, “[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.” Despite her determination, Jasmine Paolini proved too strong in the Miami round of 16.
Next up is the Madrid Open on April 21, where Osaka will make her sixth appearance. Her best result here came in 2019 when she reached the quarterfinals as the top seed but fell to Belinda Bencic despite taking the first set.
Since then, Madrid has been tricky for her, with second-round exits in subsequent years. Last year, she narrowly lost to Liudmila Samsonova after beating Greet Minnen in the opener. With new footwork techniques in play and renewed focus, can Osaka turn things around on clay? Let us know your thoughts!
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