Naomi Osaka is enjoying her best Grand Slam campaign in three years, at the 2025 Australian Open.
Few names have bigger star power on the WTA Tour, than the Japanese world number 51.
Osaka is a two-time champion at the Australian Open, winning in 2019, and 2021, taking down Petra Kvitova, and Jennifer Brady in her two finals.
Things didn’t go quite as well in 2024, however, as Osaka lost in the first round, on her comeback from maternity leave, and faced significant criticism for her performance at the event.
Fit and healthy this time around, Osaka took down Caroline Garcia in three sets, to book her place in the second round.
Osaka then beat Karolina Muchova, in a big upset, securing her spot in the last 32 of a Slam for the first time since 2022.
A fantastic result, and one that has seen a big tennis name make a bold prediction about Osaka’s future.
Jon Wertheim says Naomi Osaka’s level at points during her win over Karolina Muchova was ‘Major worthy’
Speaking on Quick Served, Jon Wertheim explained just how good Osaka was during her win over Muchova.
“Peak Naomi Osaka is Major worthy tennis still,” he said.
“It’s been the case four times in the past, and it was for the last hour or so last night.
“Just a brilliant comeback, beating a really game opponent.”
She didn’t have it all her own way, however, as Osaka dropped the first set 6-1, and was struggling to keep up with Muchova.
“For about an hour this was almost hard to watch, Muchova was so good, and Osaka was having such a hard time finding the court,” he said.
“Then, as she did in her prime, which might still be continuing, Naomi Osaka just turned it around and suddenly raised her level.
“Probably the best win since her return from maternity leave.”
Wertheim was cautious of looking too far ahead but noted just how happy Osaka was with the win.
“It’s two matches in, and she still has to play Coco [Gauff], and it’s easy to get irrationally exuberant, but this was a really big win, a real statement,” he said.
“You could tell just from the glee she showed after the match just how much this meant to her.
“Naomi Osaka beating Muchova, many of us pegged that as the match of the day, and it lived up to the billing.”
Who’s next for Naomi Osaka at the 2025 Australian Open?
Having made her way into the third round, with two three-set victories, she will now set her sights on a former Olympic Gold medallist.
Her round-of-32 opponent, Belinda Bencic, is also making her return after maternity leave, competing in her first Major tournament in over a year, having skipped the 2024 Grand Slam calendar.
It will be a tough test for the Japanese star, but should she make it through, things won’t get any easier.
- 3R v Belinda Bencic (2021 Olympic Gold medallist)
- 4R v Coco Gauff (2023 US Open winner/ WTA number 3)
- QF v Jessica Pegula (2024 US Open finalist/ WTA number 6)
- SF v Aryna Sabalenka (Two-time defending Australian Open champion/ WTA number 1)
- F v Iga Swiatek (Five-time Grand Slam winner/ WTA number 2)
Her likely path to the title in Melbourne is a tricky one, and one that would require her to score four top-ten wins.
Considering Osaka has won just two matches against players ranked in the top ten since the beginning of the 2020 season, it’s certainly a big ask.
However, if she can continue playing the way she did during her win over Muchova, then perhaps a third Australian Open title could be on the cards for the 27-year-old.
Osaka will return to the court to take on Bencic on Friday, January 17.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
