Twelve months ago, a dejected Naomi Osaka walked through the player’s tunnel at Rod Laver Arena following a round-one loss to Caroline Garcia at the Australian Open.
The former world No.1 and two-time winner in Melbourne had started her comeback following a 15-month hiatus, which included giving birth to daughter Shai, when she lost to Garcia in one of the most exciting matches of the tournament.
On Monday night in that same player’s tunnel, Osaka will again walk past a wall of honour that features her and other previous champions including Serena Williams, Aryna Sabalenka and Ash Barty. Once on the court, she will face the opponent who eliminated her last year.
“When my agent told me who my first-round opponent was, I thought he was joking,” Osaka told this masthead.
“Caroline is a tough opponent, but I’m excited to play her as we always have fun battles.”
The two have an even head-to-head record (2-2)and played each other three times in 2024, including that Australian Open match. The last time they faced one another was in Miami when Garcia had a tight 7-6, 7-5 win.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka talks with coach Patrick Mouratoglou during practice at the Australian Open.Credit: AP
“I think I’m much more confident in my game this year,” Osaka said. “I’ve got a new coach who I have yet to lose with, technically. Hopefully, we can continue our winning streak.”
The new coach Osaka refers to is Patrick Mouratoglou – the mentor who helped Serena Williams win 10 grand slam singles titles between 2012 and 2022. Olympic gold and a return to the world No. 1 ranking also featured for the American during that period.
The technicality Osaka is speaking about is her retirement in the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland on January 5. She took the first set 6-4 against Denmark’s Clara Tauson, before bowing out of the match with an abdominal strain.
That retirement aside, Osaka has won all of her matches with Mouratoglou by her side.
Naomi Osaka receiving medical treatment during her final in Auckland.Credit: AP
“I’m feeling better and better each day,” Osaka said. “It was obviously disappointing to have to retire when I was playing so well but my team and I decided to err on the side of caution and prioritise being able to compete at AO.
“In the moment I was super bummed, but I’ve decided to look at it from a positive perspective that I had such a strong start to the season.”
Osaka, the Australian Open champion in 2019 and 2021, has at times struggled with the mental demands of the sport. Her hiatus came after she withdrew from the 2021 French Open citing mental health struggles, and took to social media to let fans know she had “suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018, and I have had a really hard time coping with that.”
But the birth of her daughter has helped put life and tennis into perspective.
Naomi Osaka has won the Australian Open women’s singles title twice.Credit: AP
“I genuinely love being in Melbourne. I don’t think I feel pressure,” she said.
“If anything, I feel even more confidence as I have tangible evidence of what I can accomplish here. Slams where I have won feel the most like home and I love coming back and being reminded of such great memories and feeling inspired and motivated to make more.”
The tour has become more competitive since Osaka’s return. That hasn’t dimmed the belief she has in her ability to win major events.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t know that I could win more slams,” Osaka said.
“I’m not the type to stick around and keep playing if I don’t think I can get back to the top. The goal is to win several more slams – specifically on grass and clay as those are the surfaces I haven’t quite mastered yet.
“My biggest goal in 2025 is to just give it 100 per cent in everything that I do on and off the court. I want to always feel like I did my absolute best, and I know that I will have great results if I implement this resolution in everything that I do.”
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