Have we lost faith in Naomi Osaka?

Fernando Murciego | 21 Jun 2025 | 08.00

Naomi Osaka raises doubts among fans. Source: Getty

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Surely at some point you have asked yourself this question: what is happening with Naomi Osaka? A question that inevitably leads to the comparison between the best times of the Japanese player and the current times. Once a four-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 1, she is currently still in search of that version of herself that made us all envision an era of dominance bearing her name. Motherhood was the reason that marked a separation between one phase and another, but at 27 years old, there should be no sporting reasons for not seeing her dominate her opponents again. However, the doubt remains, even in the minds of experts. Tracy Austin and Andy Roddick recently discussed this on the Tennis Channel.

“I have to be honest about it: I never thought it would take so long for someone who has won four Grand Slams, especially considering how committed she is in this new phase, working side by side with Patrick Mouratoglou,” remarked Austin, another former world No. 1. “Naomi has worked very hard, even harder after each defeat, I know she always returned to the Academy to work. I'm super proud to see Naomi striving to improve, for instance, on a surface like clay. Her four majors were on hard courts, but throughout her career, she never managed to feel comfortable on grass. I guess now it's normal for her not to expect a great summer,” added the American.

Austin, one of the most analytical voices in today's landscape, ventured to point out where improvements could be made by the Asian player for this grass-court season, starting with her early exit in Berlin, losing in the first round to Samsonova. “Regarding her serve is where the most changes could happen. Currently, I see that she is starting to have some doubts when competing, I see that she is losing some matches by 6-4 or 7-5 in the third set. That aura she had has faded a bit, perhaps now many more players think they can beat her. It's a tough situation for her at the moment,” she holds.

RODDICK HAS FAITH IN NAOMI

Since her return to the circuit in early 2024, Naomi Osaka's record stands at 39-26 after 28 tournaments. Her two best results: runner-up in Auckland 2025 – where she retired against Tauson – and a title a few months ago at the WTA 125K event in Saint-Malo, her first trophy on clay. The problem arises when we look at her performance in Grand Slams, an area that was always her stronghold. She has played six Grand Slams with a not even positive record: 5-6. The third round of the last Australian Open is her best result so far, a very poor performance for a player of her caliber. Currently ranked within the top 60, fans are starting to lose faith in an Osaka who no longer poses a threat on the big stage. But beware, she hasn't spoken her last word yet. The very Andy Roddick still counts on her for the upcoming two events: Bad Homburg and Wimbledon.

“I think about it and, I truly mean it, I don't see a strong reason why Naomi can't perform well on grass,” assures the American, who reached three finals at the Cathedral, all lost to Roger Federer. "I believe Naomi needs to focus a bit more on those first-strike tennis, perhaps vary her service a little more, maybe take more risks with the second serve so that, on her subsequent move, her opponents do not have the chance to expose her so frequently,” pointed out the former world No. 1 from his experience.

What do you think? Will we see the Japanese player on magazine covers again?

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¿Hemos perdido la fe en Naomi Osaka?

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