Naomi Osaka cannot afford to disappoint on grass this year for one key reason

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Naomi Osaka is about to begin her 2026 grass-court season at the Bad Homburg Open.

The four-time Grand Slam champion has never played her best tennis on the grass, but she must do so this year.

If she doesn’t, Osaka will be under immense pressure on North American hard courts.

Naomi Osaka must earn big points on grass to avoid pressure overwhelming her in North America

Osaka enjoyed somewhat of a career resurgence on North American hard courts last year, reaching the final of the Canadian Open and the semi-finals of the US Open.

In doing so, she shot up the rankings, threatening to break back into the top 10.

The Japanese star hasn’t quite been able to make that breakthrough, but currently sits 15th in the ‘Live WTA Rankings’

Live WTA Rankings

However, failing to build on those results puts Osaka in a dangerous position as she approaches the second half of the year.

Osaka has only earned 773 ranking points this season, fewer than 39 other players.

Live WTA Race

Therefore, Osaka will enter the Canadian Open and US Open knowing she must perform as well as she did 12 months ago to avoid a major ranking drop.

That extra pressure is unlikely to work in Osaka’s favour!

However, there is a way for her to alleviate some of that pressure.

If Osaka can pick up some big points and make deep runs at her next two grass-court tournaments, there won’t be so much on the line in North America.

Now, to do that, she will need to produce a level we have yet to see from her on grass.

Osaka has never been past the third round of Wimbledon and has yet to get her hands on a grass-court trophy.

Naomi Osaka’s Grand Slam record

Naomi Osaka’s Wimbledon record (7-5)

• 2017 Wimbledon 1R [WIN] vs Sara Sorribes Tormo, 6-3, 7-6
• 2017 Wimbledon 2R [WIN] vs Barbora Strycova, 6-1, 0-6, 6-4
• 2017 Wimbledon 3R [LOSS] vs Venus Williams, 6-7, 4-6
• 2018 Wimbledon 1R [WIN] vs Monica Niculescu, 6-4, 6-1
• 2018 Wimbledon 2R [WIN] vs Katie Boulter, 6-3, 6-4
• 2018 Wimbledon 3R [LOSS] vs Angelique Kerber, 2-6, 4-6
• 2019 Wimbledon 1R [LOSS] vs Yulia Putintseva, 6-7, 2-6
• 2024 Wimbledon 1R [WIN] vs Diane Parry, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4
• 2024 Wimbledon 2R [LOSS] vs Emma Navarro, 4-6, 1-6
• 2025 Wimbledon 1R [WIN] vs Talia Gibson, 6-4, 7-6
• 2025 Wimbledon 2R [WIN] vs Katerina Siniakova, 6-3, 6-2
• 2025 Wimbledon 3R [LOSS] vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6

But at 28, Osaka has been around for some time now and has more experience than most of her rivals.

She will be looking to put that experience to good use at Wimbledon, and before then in Bad Homburg.

Who will Naomi Osaka play at the Bad Homburg Open?

Before she travels to London for Wimbledon, Osaka will play her first grass-court tournament of the year in Bad Homburg.

If Osaka wins the title, she will earn 500 points, covering over 75% of the points she picked up in Montreal a year ago (650).

Easier said than done, though, as several top stars have signed up for the WTA 500 event in Germany.

First up for Osaka is an intriguing clash with Poland’s Magdalena Frech.

The Pole isn’t exactly a grass-court specialist, although Osaka would be wise not to underestimate the world number 45.

If Osaka can win her opener, she will meet Alex Eala or Elise Mertens in the second round.

Filipina sensation Eala has been a revelation on grass this year and would likely cause Osaka some real problems.

Looking further ahead in the draw, Osaka could play the likes of Mirra Andreeva, Elina Svitolina, and Iga Swiatek.

Osaka will need to be at her very best to stand a chance of taking the title, but it would be wrong to count out a four-time Grand Slam champion!

She will play Frech in the first round on Sunday, June 21.