During her off-season, Naomi Osaka isn’t straying far from the court; she’s just swapping her tennis racket for a paddle. While she prepares for her 2025 season with her new coach Patrick Mouratoglou, she is also trying her hand at pickleball. The four-time Grand Slam champion squared off against comedian Kevin Hart in a friendly game of pickleball—and the results weren’t exactly close. Osaka won both the games that they played and what’s shocking is Kevin Hart, who is a self-proclaimed pro, couldn’t even get around close to her.

The Japanese tennis star shared a picture of the duo on her Instagram story trolling the comedian for his all talk and no show game. She captioned it “The face you make when you lose 11-1 after talking 💩 the whole time.” Well, that says something, doesn’t it?

Pickleball, for the uninitiated, is the sport everyone seems to be talking about. A mix of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, it’s been attracting celebrity NBA players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Aussie tennis player Nick Kyrgios also invested in the Major League Pickleball. Following his footsteps, Naomi Osaka has also invested in the sport. Even Forbes is calling it one of the fastest-growing sports in America. And while Kevin Hart might not be pickleball’s next big star, his match with Osaka is only adding to the sport’s buzz.

Talking about their match, Hart, ever the entertainer, took to Instagram to share his defeat “Word on the street is that I might be a pro in pickle ball …. Ok not really but I’m good damn it…. At least I thought I was until @naomiosaka came over to my house and whooped my a*s like I stole something 😂😂😂😂😂 First game I held my own 11-7 and felt good about myself…. The next game she made me understand the true definition of a pro and beat me 11-1.”

He further ended it with a sweet note, writing “I got her right where I want her…. This isn’t over damn it!!!!!! Thank you for coming and being so damn cool and super thank you for being so sweet to my kids!!!!! We love you and can’t wait to watch you kick a*s in the Australian open!!!!!”

While she’s clearly crushing it in pickleball, Osaka’s eyes are firmly set on her tennis comeback in 2025.

Naomi Osaka sets her sights on the 2025 season

Naomi Osaka made a remarkable return to professional tennis in 2024, showcasing her resilience and skill after a significant hiatus due to her pregnancy. The former World No. 1 last competed at the China Open, where she lost to Coco Gauff in the Round of 16. Shortly after, a back injury forced her to pull out of the rest of the Asian Swing.

Since then, Osaka has been spending time with her daughter, Shai, and gearing up for the new season. Her first stop? Auckland, where she’ll play for the first time since 2017. “I think I haven’t been there since 2017, so I’m excited to go back,” she said.

When asked about her goals for the Australian Open, Osaka kept it refreshingly real: “My goal now is to be seeded in Australia. I would really love that. I would love to avoid Caroline Garcia (smiling).” Garcia knocked Osaka out in the very first round of the Australian Open this year. So yes, the concerns are valid.

With a renewed focus, a sense of humor, and the ability to absolutely dominate on both the tennis and pickleball courts, Osaka looks ready to dive into 2025 in style. Can she claim her fifth Grand Slam in 2025?