Naomi Osaka could possibly start her Auckland campaign by meeting two qualifiers but then it could also get significantly tougher for the four-time Grand Slam champion.
After the ASB Classic released its tournament draw on Saturday, the seventh-seeded learned that she would meet a qualifier in her opening match and then potentially another qualifier if Julia Grabher loses in the first round.
Either way, Osaka likely won’t have many issues overcoming her first two matches.
But then, the former world No. 1 could be handed a big challenge as she is slated to meet No. 2 seed Elise Mertens – the Belgian beat the Japanese on hard courts twice last season.
In the Auckland semifinal, Osaka’s projected rival is third-seeded Amanda Anisimova.
If she makes the final, the 26-year-old could potentially clash Emma Raducanu or No. 1 seed Madison Keys for the title.
Naomi Osaka’s possible path to the title in Auckland:
R1 – Qualifier
R2 – Grabher / Qualifier
QF – Mertens / Baptiste
SF – Anisimova / Volynets / Stephens
F – Keys / Raducanu / Tauson / Sun / Kenin / Cristian / Starodubtseva
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— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) December 28, 2024
Osaka is returning to Auckland for the first time in years
At the start of her career, the Japanese tennis star made her ASB Classic debut in 2017.
That year, she defeated Annika Beck – then Venus Williams gave her a walkover in the round-of-16 – before she was forced to retire early in her quarterfinal match against Ana Konjuh.
Osaka’s first campaign in New Zealand may have ended on an unfortunate way but the 26-year-old still had positive memories of the tournament.
“I am excited to return to Auckland for the ASB Classic 2025. When I was there last time, I was fortunate to go on a helicopter tour and explore the beaches which I thought were really beautiful. My other memory is that Auckland has the best salmon,” she said in September when confirming her first tournament of 2025.
After kicking off her partnership with coach Patrick Mouratoglou in late 2024, Osaka noted that one of her early goals was to finally win her first title since 2021.
Tennis World USA