Remember Naomi Osaka’s dramatic moment at the 2021 US Open against 18-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez? Frustrated and trailing in the second-set tie-break, she slammed her racket into the ground and threw it across the court – an act that triggered a wave of boos from the crowd. Fast forward 3 years, and Osaka found herself in a similar situation again at the Miami Open against Hailey Baptiste. However, this time, she took a moment to reflect, revealing how her on-court frustration might have impacted her opponent.

On Saturday, the ongoing Miami Open saw Naomi Osaka pushed to the brink in a high-stakes showdown against wild card Hailey Baptiste. After an intense 2-hour-59-minute battle: the longest women’s match in the tournament, Osaka battled through the pressure to claim a hard-fought 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-4 victory. The match was a serving masterclass, with Osaka firing 13 aces and Baptiste adding 9 from her side, making it the highest ace count in a women’s match in this year’s event so far. But beyond the numbers, the clash was a rollercoaster of emotions as well. 

Trailing 2-4 in the final set, Osaka momentarily lost her composure, tossing her racket in frustration again. However, just when it mattered most, the 40-time GS winner flipped the script, breaking Baptiste twice to seal the win. In the post-match interview, the former World No. 1 candidly talked about her emotional outburst.

“Yeah, today was an emotional day for me. I was saying that I’m a little embarrassed for how much I threw my racquet, which is something that I don’t like to be known for. So very sorry to Yonex about that. But I also feel like I was trying to be really positive and really vocal. So I might have been a little annoying to her on that end, too. But I felt like I needed to do that to, I guess, push myself to continue. In that regard, this match was very difficult,” Osaka said.

Continuing further, she added, “And I did notice she was way quieter than me (smiling), but I feel like most of the time a lot of people are quieter than me, so… Yeah, at the net I was telling her how she’s a really good player, which she already knows that. Well, she should already know that. Also, the last time I played her, she took a medical timeout, so I was just asking her if it was the same thing and if she was okay.”

This clash with the American Baptiste marked Osaka’s second win over the American this season, having previously defeated her at the ASB Classic in Auckland. Making her 8th Miami Open appearance, Osaka is no stranger to the tournament, with her best run coming in 2022 when she reached the SF.

This latest victory signals a potential resurgence for the former US Open champion as she looks to move past a few challenging seasons and re-establish herself among the elites. Now, she sets her sights on a tough fourth-round battle against 6th seed Jasmine Paolini, a matchup that will test her resilience. Post-match, her new coach Patrick Mouratoglou also lauded the four-time Grand Slam champion’s effort against Baptiste.

Patrick Mouratoglou is ecstatic about Naomi Osaka’s form at the Miami Open

Osaka’s battle against Baptiste wasn’t just about skills, it was also about grit and mentality. The match opened with both players holding firm on serve, setting the tone for an intense showdown. In a critical moment during the 8th game of the first set, Osaka faced a breakpoint but held her nerve, refusing to surrender the early advantage. The set was eventually decided on a nail-biting tie-break and went in Osaka’s favor.

The momentum swung in the second set as Baptiste came out firing, breaking Osaka twice to level terms. But in the final set, Osaka’s superior experience proved to be the deciding factor under intense pressure. In the aftermath of the win, Patrick Mouratoglou shared his candid opinion regarding Osaka’s perseverance and her ability to overcome the challenges.

“What. A. fight! This is what tennis is about. Going through ups and downs, digging deep when it gets tough, accepting one’s emotions and dealing with them, and most of all, problem-solving. Cannot be prouder of your effort today @naomiosaka #tennis #miamiopen #naomiosaka @replay.” Mouratoglou wrote on Instagram, uploading a few pictures from the match. 

Considering Naomi’s 7-3 record in 2025, do you think she is in good enough form to beat the World No. 6 Jasmine Paolini in the next match? Share your thoughts in the comments below!