Naomi Osaka has built an illustrious tennis career, collecting an impressive array of Major trophies and reaching the coveted world No. 1 ranking.
Over the last few years, she has become one of the most prominent figures in the sport, claiming four Grand Slam titles between 2018 and 2021, solidifying her place among the sport’s elite.
This year, Osaka made it to the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. However, while leading by a set against Denmark’s Clara Tauson, she was forced to retire, her comeback cut short.
Heading into the Australian Open, a tournament she’s conquered twice before, Osaka was looking for her best Major performance since returning from maternity leave in 2023. She started strong, beating Caroline Garcia in a tough first-round match, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, showing resilience against the former world No. 4.
Next up was former Grand Slam finalist Karolina Muchova, and in another stunning upset, Osaka triumphed 1-6, 6-1, 6-3, proving once again her ability to battle back from adversity.
Despite this promising run, Osaka’s journey came to an end in the third round against Belinda Bencic, with Osaka retiring while trailing 6-7 in the opening set, marking her best Major performance in three years.
Now, with the French Open on the horizon in May, Osaka will likely reflect on her past triumphs, including the first Major victory that kickstarted her rise, as she sets her sights on future glory.
A Historic US Open Victory
In 2018, at just 20 years old, Osaka made a historic run to the US Open final, dropping only one set along the way. In the final, she faced the legendary Serena Williams, who was chasing a record-extending 24th Major title.
The match itself was a thrilling encounter, with both women exchanging powerful blows on the court. However, the atmosphere soured when Williams got into a heated argument with umpire Carlos Ramos. After he penalized her for coaching violations by her team, Williams called him a “thief,” earning a game penalty that escalated the tension.
Osaka, undeterred by the chaos around her, sealed a straight-sets victory, 6-2, 6-4, claiming her first Grand Slam title. But as boos rang out across Arthur Ashe Stadium, Osaka, who had just made history, took the microphone during the trophy ceremony and apologized to the fans for the sour ending to the match.
That moment became a defining chapter in her career, a mixture of triumph, controversy, and grace under pressure, forever etching her name in tennis history.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“I know that everyone was cheering for her [Serena Williams] and I’m sorry it had to end like this.”
The new Grand Slam champion was then asked why she felt the need to apologize, having accomplished a life-long dream, during her post-match press conference shortly after.
“Your question is making me emotional,” she said.
“Okay, because I know that, like, she really wanted to have the 24th Grand Slam, right? Everyone knows this, it’s on the commercials, it’s everywhere.”
Osaka then explained how she felt when Williams embraced her at the net.
“But then when I hugged her at the net,” she said.
“Anyway, when I hugged her at the net, I felt like a little kid again.”
Williams defended Osaka during the presentation and in her post-match press conference, as she spoke fondly of the Japanese star.
“I felt at one point bad because I’m crying and she’s crying, you know, she just won,” she said.
“I felt like, Wow, this isn’t how I felt when I won my first Grand Slam, I was like, Wow, I definitely don’t want her to feel like that.
“She played an amazing match, she deserved credit, she deserved to win.
“At the end of the day, that’s what it was.”
Did Naomi Osaka return to win a second US Open title?
Osaka failed to defend her title in 2019, losing in the fourth round to Bencic, but looked in good form to clinch her second US Open in 2020.
The fourth seed didn’t have things all her own way, battling through a deciding set on four occasions, as she won in New York for a second time.
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| F | Victoria Azarenka | 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 |
| SF | Jennifer Brady | 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 |
| QF | Shelby Rogers | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 4R | Anett Kontaveit | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 3R | Marta Kostyuk | 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 |
| 2R | Camila Giorgi | 6-1, 6-2 |
| 1R | Misaki Doi | 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 |
Having dropped the first set 1-6 to Victoria Azarenka in the final, Osaka bravely fought back, this time lifting the trophy with a smile on her face.
Osaka hasn’t returned to the fourth round at Flushing Meadows since, most recently falling to defeat in round two in 2024.
She’ll be hoping to fare better later this year when the US Open begins on Sunday, August 24.
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