NEW YORK – Many fans assume that Naomi Osaka is normal for them to be there in the US Open semi-finals on Thursday night.
They will remember that she won this tournament twice. They may also remember that she has two Australian openings. They will instinctively know that she is one of the world’s most famous tennis players and a cultural icon of both the American and Japanese who claims the nationality she grew up in.
advertisement
And it all makes sense.
However, this betrays the reality of what Osaka has experienced on tennis courts over the past four years.
This is a more accurate explanation of what Osaka accomplished after a 6-4, 7-6 victory with No. 11 seed Karolina Machova on Wednesday.
“I am grateful for more travel now,” Osaka said. “I’m grateful that I’m playing well in this city.”
(Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football League for the 2025 NFL season))
Regardless of what happens in the semi-final against Amanda Anishimova, or perhaps beyond that, in one round, it appears Osaka has returned legally. She came to the US Open, which seemed fast and fit. She is still the purest ball striker in female tennis and she finally gains confidence to close out a tense match like she did three years of stretching when she bet her on the hard court.
advertisement
That’s great news for women’s tennis. But for a woman who has to deal with her as a real threat again in the Grand Slam?
Um, yeah.
“I learned I love tennis more than I thought,” Osaka said. “And I’ve learned that I actually love the challenge. It’s like a video game. You pick it up and even if you lose the level, you’ll reboot and continue until you actually win.
With everything she accomplished and all the money she earned, it would not have been a surprise that she left when mental health problems began to seriously affect her in 2021 and 2022, and after giving birth to a girl in 2023.
advertisement
But she clearly wanted to be a factor again. In 2024 and 2025, I played more tournaments than I did at my peak.
The only problem was how long she endured the insult of being stuck outside the top 50, she couldn’t win her previous match to win and was hardly able to pay for all the jobs she had put in her comeback.
And frankly, those rewards appear almost out of nowhere.
He was once the number one player in the world after being crushed 6-4 and 6-2 by Emmaladukanu at the DC Open in late July, but his 2025 WTA level record was 16-11. She hasn’t passed the third round of the Grand Slam since winning the 2021 Australia Open. Even on rare occasions, she collapsed at the finish line, even if she showed off her old-form flashes of light. It didn’t seem quirky to suggest that the runway end was within sight.
advertisement
However, the day after the loss in Washington, Osaka parted ways with Patrick Mouratoglow. Patrick Mouratoggle worked with several well-known women in her late Grand Slam run, including Serena Williams.
Instead, Osaka turned to Thomas Wiktrovsky, the nonsense pole who coached Aga Radwaska and Iga Switek. And then, almost the snap of my fingers changed everything.
A week after Washington, Osaka went to Montreal and won six consecutive matches to reach the final. She lost in a fight to 19-year-old Victoria Mboko, but after fleeing the second set, she appears to have almost given up on the third set, but sowing Osaka here was enough.
Well, no. Daria Kasatkina of 15, No. 3Coco Gauff, playing very clean tennis along the way after beating Muchova – the turnaround seems real.
advertisement
And it’s been a long time late.
“After Wimbledon, especially after DC, I called my team’s roundtable, which was very confusing how confident I am,” she said. “Even though I lost, I remember thinking they could still fall from the baseline, and I need to figure out if I have to change my game plan.
Is this difference just six weeks ago just due to changes in coaching? Or was the true breakout just a matter of time for anyone who is talented at hitting a tennis ball?
We may never know. She may never know.
advertisement
All we can say is that we have not seen the real Osaka for four years. Now, when that version seemed to disappear forever, she reappeared. And she might stay here as there are only two matches standing between her fifth and the most surprising major title.
