Former world number one Naomi Osaka marked a triumphant return to winning ways with a hard-fought victory in the first round of the 2025 Miami Open. The Japanese tennis star came from a set down to defeat Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, securing her first win since the second round of the Australian Open in January.
Osaka, who has faced a difficult period in recent months, including a first-round loss to Camila Osorio at Indian Wells earlier this month, expressed a deep desire to return to the top. Reflecting on her performance after the two-and-a-half-hour battle against Starodubtseva, she said: “I want to play with the big dogs so bad, and I just see everyone playing so well, and I want to do the same. But I have to remember it’s a process.”
Despite her recent struggles, including a long period of time off the tour for mental health and maternity reasons, the four-time Grand Slam champion remains focused on rediscovering her form. Her win in Miami was a much-needed confidence boost, especially after describing her loss at Indian Wells as the “worst match I’ve ever played in my life.”
“I knew that I wasn’t playing too well, but I thought, ‘let me try to stay on the court as long as possible’, because I consider Miami my home,” Osaka shared. She acknowledged that she had been over-hitting at Indian Wells, but was determined to adjust her game, saying, “I was going to run into every corner if I had to, and we were going to have to play for three hours if she was going to beat me.”
Osaka’s Miami Open win marks a promising start to her comeback and a step towards regaining her place among the sport’s elite players.
