Naomi Osaka’s WTA Success Receives Encouraging Words From Retired ATP Legend

Naomi Osaka’s 2025 season hasn’t exactly been a dream start, but it might just be turning a corner. After months of false starts and frustrating injuries, the four-time Grand Slam champion finally tasted victory again, clinching the title at the WTA 125 event in Saint-Malo, France. It marked her first trophy in four years and came, quite unexpectedly, on the clay courts she’s never felt fully at home on. Her new victory even has an ATP Legend applauding.

The Japanese tennis star’s return to the tour after maternity leave started with promise at the Australian Open, where she made it to the third round. But momentum came to a sudden halt when she was forced to withdraw due to injury, handing Belinda Bencic a walkover into the fourth round. That early exit set a tone she struggled to shake, even as the hard-court swing continued in North America. At Indian Wells, Osaka was ousted in the Round of 128, losing a gritty, narrow match to Camila Osorio. Still, there were flickers of the old spark in Miami, where she reached the Round of 16, giving her fans a glimpse of what could come next. Hopes rose as the tour shifted to Europe, but Madrid brought more disappointment. In the Spanish capital, Osaka lost a tight three-setter to Lucia Bronzetti in the opening round—6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

The 4-time Grand Slam champion took a last-minute wild card at the WTA 125 event in Saint-Malo in hopes of getting more matches under her belt. The move paid off. According to her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, speaking to Tennis Channel 2’s Second Serve, “the thing she needs the most” is match fitness, something impossible to build without consistent play. In France, she found just that.

The field didn’t feature anyone ranked inside the Top 100, but that didn’t diminish the importance of what Naomi Osaka achieved. Winning five matches in a row on clay, historically her least favorite surface, was no small feat. And for the first time since the 2021 Australian Open, she walked away with the trophy in hand. A huge milestone, made even sweeter by the mental and physical road she’s had to travel to get here. On Sunday, she capped her Saint-Malo run with a straight-sets win over Kaja Juvan, 6-1, 7-5, in her first-ever clay-court final. Seeded No. 2, she fought past three French players: Leolia Jeanjean, Elsa Jacquemot, and Diane Parry along the way and dropped only one set the entire tournament.

Naturally, applause followed from all corners of the tennis world. Six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker chimed in with a succinct and celebratory, “Welcome back Naomi !!!” on X.

Welcome back Naomi !!! https://t.co/cUkzCgTlaB

— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) May 4, 2025

As if the trophy wasn’t enough, the victory is also set to return her to the WTA Top 50 on Monday, another major milestone in her post-maternity comeback. Osaka herself reflected on the full-circle moment with a caption that hit just the right chord: “Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst. That’s one of my favorite things about life though, there’s always room to grow and evolve. Thanks to everyone accompanying me on this journey, I know it’s turbulent but it’s also really fun and I’m grateful.”

Alongside her tennis resurgence, the 27-year-old has also offered candid reflections on her mental health journey, something she’s never shied away from.

“Overthinker “Naomi Osaka shares a moving reminder

Naomi Osaka’s 2021 decision to skip post-match interviews at Roland-Garros drew both headlines and a $15,000 fine. The reason? “I would never trivialize mental health or use the term lightly,” she said at the time, making clear how important it was to prioritize well-being over public appearances.

Recently, the former World No.1 revisited that topic with another message that hit home for fans and players alike. On Instagram, she wrote, “To all my ppl who sometimes get caught up in the shackles of their brain. ILY . To my fellow overachievers, overthinkers, and overanalyzers – You’re allowed to live in the moment. Life is so insanely short, and I know it doesn’t happen often, but I want you to take a second to breathe.”

She didn’t stop there. Continuing her message, Osaka added, “One day you’re going to look back and laugh at how insignificant your past worries were and you’re going to realize how amazing it is that those very worries, (seemingly so major at the time), have challenged you and allowed you the opportunity to grow as a person. I hope you take a good look at your surroundings and smile today. You’ve made it so far, and I’m excited to see how much further you’ll go.”

The message resonated across the tennis community. Ons Jabeur responded with three red heart emojis, while ATP’s Chris Eubanks gave it a shoutout with “” and even shared it on his own Instagram story—proof that Osaka’s words carried weight both on and off the court.

Next stop for Naomi? The Italian Open, which kicks off on Tuesday. With new clay confidence and a title in her bag, she’ll be aiming to keep the rhythm going and turn her season around for good. She’s back in the winner’s circle and back in the Top 50. Can Naomi Osaka now carry this spark into the heart of the clay season?

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