Naomi Osaka’s Potential for Grand Slam Comeback Highlighted as WTA Ex-Pro Shares a Strategic Blueprint for Success

The 2025 season is heating up, and so are the players, especially those making comebacks after long absences. Naomi Osaka is back in action after taking a maternity leave during the entire 2023 season. Although she returned for 2024, injuries cut her season short at the China Open due to an ankle injury. This year, she’s bursting with fiery energy and has a new coach. But will this fresh combo help her climb back to the top? Maybe a 5th Slam?

Once ranked No. 1 in 2019 during Serena Williams’ reign, Osaka has four major titles under her belt—two at the Australian Open and two at the US Open from 2018 to 2021. However, her performance waned before her maternity leave, and she hasn’t won a title since. On the Tennis Channel Live Podcast, Steve Weissman, Coco Vandeweghe, and Prakash Amritraj discussed Osaka’s chances of clinching another Grand Slam this year.

Vandeweghe is optimistic!

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She boldly declared, “I knew what was on the table for Naomi Osaka. She was sneaking into top-50 no problem.” When asked about her confidence in Osaka, she shared her insights.

via Getty NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 27: Naomi Osaka of Japan in action against Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia in the first round on Day 2 of the US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2024 in New York City (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

She said, “I think just the consistency level definitely needs to rise up, but when it’s there it’s so prevalent that she is just leads above some players and I think that will get her through a couple of easy matches. Which everyone needs one when it comes to a Grand Slam.”

Osaka burst onto the tennis scene by winning the 2018 US Open, becoming the first Japanese player to claim a Grand Slam title. She followed this with a stunning victory at the 2019 Australian Open, which propelled her to world No. 1. As Vandeweghe noted that while luck plays a role in a player’s success, other factors are important too, stating, “Sometimes the draws have to match up, you don’t get the rain delays, you don’t get the hottest day of the tournament.”

Not to forget, this season, Osaka is teaming up with Patrick Mouratoglou, the former coach of Serena Williams. This partnership could help her maintain focus on the court. “If those things line up for Naomi Osaka, she can get the consistency level back up,” Vandeweghe stated. “With Patrick in her corner, having a good cheerleader in the back of her head, I think that’s all positive.”

Currently competing at the ASB Classic in Auckland, Osaka has reached the first finals as a mother after defeating Alycia Parks, Hailey Baptiste, Julia Grabher, and Lina Glushko. The last time she graced a final, she faced defeat against Iga Swiatek at the 2022 Miami Open, falling 4-6, 0-6. As a pro for nearly a decade now, Osaka feels the pressure to set an example for other WTA players.

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Naomi Osaka shares mixed feelings on inspiring other players

During her interview at the ASB Classic on Friday, Naomi shared, “I feel like a veteran and also a newbie at the same time.” After taking time off for maternity leave, Osaka acknowledges that the game has changed with new players emerging each year. Despite the challenges in her comeback season, her fighting spirit shines through. She remarked, “When you’re on the court, it’s like you’re in a boxing match. You need to have the will to fight more than the other person, and I feel like I finally found that again.”

Reflecting on her past year, Osaka faced ups and downs after returning to competitive play. Her best result in 2024 was reaching the quarterfinals at the Qatar Open, but she ended the season without a title. Yet, she remains determined to improve. Earlier this week, she emphasized the importance of self-belief: “I think the key focuses I had were to have a lot of belief and confidence in myself.” Even when results didn’t reflect her hard work, she’s committed to pushing through.

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Last year brought its own set of struggles for Osaka. She admitted, “My biggest issue currently isn’t losses though; my biggest issue is that I don’t feel like I’m in my body.” However, she dedicated herself to getting back in shape during the off-season and is eager to return stronger in 2025. So far, she’s made an impressive start by reaching the finals of the Auckland tournament.

As she prepares for her final match against fifth seed Clara Tauson, seventh-seeded Osaka has already shown resilience and skill throughout the tournament. But as Coco Vandeweghe pointed out, the real question is whether Osaka can maintain this consistency throughout the 2025 tour. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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