Naomi Osaka names the best player she has ever played against in her entire career

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At the age of 28, Naomi Osaka has already carved out a phenomenal career in professional tennis.

The Japanese star, who enjoyed a comeback year in 2025, has clinched four major titles over the course of her time on the WTA Tour.

Osaka has won two US Open crowns and two Australian Open championships, collecting the four trophies from 2018 to 2021.

She achieved world number one status in 2019, becoming the first Asian player to claim the top spot in women’s singles.

Along the way, she has had to overcome some tough opponents, one of which she found much more difficult than the rest.

Naomi Osaka’s response when asked for her toughest opponent

In an interview with TNT Sports, Osaka was asked to name the most challenging opponent she had ever come up against on the WTA Tour.

She responded: “Serena Williams. I don’t have to elaborate, I don’t think.”

Osaka first clashed with Serena Williams at the Miami Open in 2018, and managed to triumph over the American in straight sets.

Later that season, the two met in the US Open final, where once again, Osaka came out on top against Williams to claim her first Grand Slam title.

Williams finally got one over Osaka in 2019, defeating her in the Canadian Open quarterfinals before advancing to the final of the tournament, which she ultimately retired from due to injury.

Their last meeting prior to Williams’ retirement came in the 2021 Australian Open semifinals, where Osaka, seeded third, emerged victorious en route to the title.

Naomi Osaka picks her favourite win outside of the 2018 US Open

When asked what her favourite title she had won in her career was, Osaka responded: “Probably my first US Open, or the French title that I won.

“Not the French Open, but the Saint-Malo tournament because it’s my first title since pregnancy.”

In late April this year, Osaka entered a WTA 125K event in Saint-Malo, France, and secured her first title since winning the Australian Open in 2021.

It was also her first professional title on a clay court, as well as the first she had won below WTA Tour level.

Later on in the season, Osaka went on to reach the final of the Canadian Open, and the semifinals of the US Open, displaying the levels that once saw her contending for major titles.