Naomi Osaka made a step forward in 2025, coming close to winning her fifth Grand Slam title…
The Japanese star won the fourth of her four major titles in 2021, but hasn’t been able to add to her tally since.
After a string of early exits, Osaka made a surprise run through to the US Open semis in 2025, narrowly losing out to Amanda Anisimova in three sets.
The loss was tough to take, but it did remind tennis fans that Osaka has the quality to compete with the very best on the WTA Tour.
Who is your favorite player on the WTA Tour right now?
With the 2026 Australian Open just a few short weeks away, former world number one Andy Roddick has weighed in with his thoughts on the two-time champion.
Naomi Osaka reminded fans why she ‘demands attention’ in 2025 – Andy Roddick
During the latest episode of ‘Served with Andy Roddick‘, Roddick’s co-host, Jon Wertheim, gave his verdict on Osaka.
“What a strange year, and what a strange career,” he said.
“This is one of my favorite stats. She won four majors, right? And it was sandwiched into a period of 27 months, in that two-year+ window.
Naomi Osaka’s Grand Slam wins
- 2018 US Open
- 2019 Australian Open
- 2020 US Open
- 2021 Australian Open
“She’s won seven titles for her career, and there’s an Indian Wells in there, too. She’s won seven titles, more than half of them have been majors, and one of the other three was Indian Wells.
“Naomi Osaka, whatever the kids say, she’s done the deal. She’s won four majors, she’s won as many majors as [Aryna] Sabalenka!
Wertheim noted the improvements she’s made in 2025, but still questions whether Osaka can take the next step.
“On the plus side, she made a coaching change that seemed to help matters; she did really well in Canada, probably should have won that event,” he said.
“Did well at the [US] Open, got to the semis, beat Coco [Gauff]. But she is still looking for that next step.
“So a lot of positive takeaways, but Naomi Osaka, now in her late 20s, we are all sort of wondering, is it going to get better than this?”
Roddick shared a statistic of his own as he reflected on her impressive run to the last four at Flushing Meadows.
“I’ll tell you, this conversation looks way different without Canada and the US Open…” he said.
“The other stat that I love, the US Open semi, was the first time she lost in a major, making it past the last 16.
“She steps up when she gets there, but also, for someone who’s won four majors, you normally see the counting stats at 20 titles, x amount of times in the top ten… I hope we get back to that, but she gave us a very, very big reminder of why she demands attention.
“She played great in Canada, she played great at the US Open. There was no one going into the semis that I thought she couldn’t beat. Not a single human on the grounds of the US Open, it is in there.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Roddick highlighted the one area of Osaka’s game that he still thinks is underrated.
“It will be interesting to see how she starts next year, I do think she needs a great start, to enter into that conversation of, am I top five, or top eight again?” he said.
“I will say that I think she’s going to have to make her gains on hard. She moves better than I think she did, but she’s not going to win a decathlon; she needs to be in the centre of the court, taking massive cuts, taking the racket out of her opponent’s hand.
“Her serve is largely underrated still. She has an absolute bomb of a serve. If those serving percentages can stay up, and she can get on that front foot and find the momentum…
Naomi Osaka’s serving stats in 2025
- Aces – 307 (5th on WTA Tour)
- 1st Serve % – 57.7% (260th on WTA Tour)
- 1st Serve points % – 73.3% (4th on WTA Tour)
- 2nd Serve % – 49% (35th on WTA Tour)
- Serve points won % – 63% (4th on WTA Tour)
- Break points saved % – 56.9% (95th on WTA Tour)
- Service games won % – 77.5% (5th on WTA Tour)
“It’s high risk, high reward, which can lead to some inconsistency.”
Which player do you think has the best serve in the history of women’s tennis?
Adding to Roddick’s point, Wertheim suggested that the inconsistency often shows up in matches where Osaka’s confidence disappears…
Jon Wertheim says Naomi Osaka is a ‘completely different player’ when her confidence goes
Wertheim remembered the 2025 Canadian Open final, where Osaka fell apart against the home favorite, Victoria Mboko.
- 2025 Canadian Open F – Victoria Mboko defeated Naomi Osaka, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
“She needs to play front-foot, first-strike tennis. And when she does, she is as good as anyone in the world,” he said.
“But also, we saw the third set of that final in Canada, when her confidence goes, she’s a completely different player, and for better or for worse, she doesn’t disguise it.
“So, she’s intriguing, glad to have her back, the question is, is that next level still there?”
Osaka will have a chance to show that ‘next level’ at the Australian Open, which begins on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
