Naomi Osaka is still very much in the infancy of her comeback, despite playing the bulk of 2024 unburdened by injury.
The 26-year-old took a lengthy sabbatical from tennis as she took her first steps into motherhood, taking the bold choice to pause a flourishing career to create a family.
Now back on the tour, and competing in most matches she plays, it feels like we are building towards a grand crescendo in her comeback.
Andy Roddick has now predicted when that might come.
Andy Roddick praises Naomi Osaka after loss
Speaking on the Tennis Channel, the American was full of praise for Osaka despite her recent loss to Qinwen Zheng.
The former world number one turned pundit has been a vocal advocate for the Japan tennis star, arguably even moreso since she returned to the sport after having her first child.
She is an inspiration to all, and is slowly creeping her way back towards full fitness and form again too.
Roddick, however, has claimed that his favourite thing that she does is something that she never has done before, claiming: ‘My favourite thing is that she is scheduling aggressively. She played last week and this week. She has never done this in her entire career, even when she was peak Osaka.
‘I think we are starting to see those moments of a high level from Naomi. Obviously, the errors are coming more often than when she was in her prime but also she is making this progress on surfaces that she doesn’t really like and aren’t natural to her. I like what she is doing on the grass – either one of these players [Zheng] – it wouldn’t shock me to see them at the business end at Wimbledon, they both have that kind of weaponry.’
This did come after Bianca Andreescu pointed out the weaknesses in Osaka’s game after their recent match.
Naomi Osaka could thrive at the 2024 US Open
Having picked up some impressive wins, and made great strides on the surfaces which she is less confident on, a return to hard court after the summer could see her hit her best form since returning yet.
After all, during the start of 2024, she struggled due to fitness issues as she felt her way back into tennis.
But having now played for many months relatively unbothered with injury, we are slowly seeing glimpses of the prime Osaka who won four Grand Slam titles, all on hard courts.
She is hitting supremely well, with great power and precision, and her serve seems to have returned as well. Fitness is improving, and this nearly culminated in a historic win against Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros.
However, taking all she has learned and gained this season, the US Open could mark the true return, where Osaka finally puts herself back into contention at the top of the sport.
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