Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka continues her slow and determined comeback to top form following a whirlwind few years marked by motherhood, mental health battles, injuries, and personal struggles—including a breakup with the father of her child. Now, in a bid to regain rhythm and confidence—especially on her least-favorite surface, clay—Osaka is making a strategic move: entering a WTA 125 tournament.
The 27-year-old has accepted a wildcard into next week’s L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo, marking her first appearance at this level in nearly a decade. The last—and only—time she competed in a WTA 125 event was in November 2015, when an 18-year-old Osaka reached the final in Hua Hin, Thailand, ranked just No. 203 in the world.
Fast forward to 2025, Osaka is now seeking match play in a less intense environment to sharpen her game and regain momentum on clay. Her decision comes after a tough three-set loss to Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti at the Mutua Madrid Open, where she fell 6-4 2-6 6-4 in the opening round. “I wouldn’t wish what goes on in my brain to my worst enemy,” she posted on social media after the match.
Per WTA regulations, players ranked outside the Top 10 may enter WTA 125 events held during the second week of a Grand Slam or mandatory WTA 1000 tournament, provided they’ve already been eliminated from the main draw. With her current ranking of No. 55, Osaka fits the criteria.
So far this season, she holds a 9–5 win-loss record, but is only 3–3 since January. Her progress has been hampered by an abdominal injury that forced her to retire from both the ASB Classic final (vs. Clara Tauson) and the Australian Open third round (vs. Belinda Bencic).
L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo kicks off on April 28, offering Osaka a valuable chance to build momentum before she heads to Rome for the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, starting May 6.
Women’s Tennis Blog