Naomi Osaka Serves Up a Spectacle of Strength in a Star-Studded Las Vegas Exhibition

No time for the gym? No problem. Turn the tennis court into your workout zone. That’s exactly what Naomi Osaka did at this weekend’s much awaited exhibition event, the MGM Rewards Slam at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Just when she needed a boost for her much-awaited battle against World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, the four-time Major queen decided to get warmed up and how!

Back in January, Sabalenka, alongside the Japanese star, had confirmed her participation for the exhibition event. “Excited to announce that I’ll be at The MGM Rewards Slam in Las Vegas! See ya there, March 1st @mgmrewards,” read a post from her on Instagram. Their anticipated clash was set for March 1 inside the Michelob ULTRA Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

On Instagram, Osaka’s hitting partner and team member Matias Zukas shared an image of the WTA pro. Guess what she was doing? The former World No.1 was spotted doing push ups while flexing her muscles. Remember her intense workout sessions in December 2024?

The training video showcased Naomi Osaka’s extraordinary physical prowess. She was captured performing a core exercise of incredible intensity, balancing on shoulder blades and feet, her midsection—the part that delivered a baby a year and a half ago—held aloft as a trainer stood on her abdomen. To further push her limits, she added a single-leg lift, demonstrating remarkable balance and control.

However, this time around her push ups didn’t do much to help her clinch victory. Why so? Well, the Belarusian proved too good to beat. The 2025 Australian Open runner-up easily overcame the challenge of the Japanese star with a score line of 6-4, 6-4. But that’s fine. An exhibition loss won’t hamper Osaka’s focus going forward. After all, she’s set her sights on some huge targets – like getting to her fifth slam!

Naomi Osaka gears up to win her next major title after recovering from injury

Naomi Osaka began 2025 on a good note as she made it to the title clash of the ASB Classic in January. In fact, she was on her way to the trophy, against her opponent Clara Tausen, when a persistent injury resurfaced. Her abdominal pain forced her to back out when she was leading 6-4 in the first set. Even during the Australian Open, where she reached the third round, she had to withdraw due to the abdominal strain in the match against Belinda Bencic. But it appears she’s made a timely recovery just before the next big event of the season, the BNP Paribas Open.

Few days back, during a Q&A session on her Instagram, she confirmed her return. “I’m playing Indian Wells,” she wrote in her response to a fan question. This time, the 27-year-old will definitely look to better her record. In previous seasons, she couldn’t leave a solid impression. Back in 2022, she was ousted in the second round, where Veronika Kudermetova beat her with a score line of 6-0, 6-4.

When Osaka came back last year, after giving birth to her daughter Shai, she failed to impress yet again. In the third round, Belgium’s Elise Mertens defeated her in straight sets with a score line of 7-5, 6-4. After recovering from her injury, however, Osaka appears to be determined for her journey ahead. She’s even eyeing a fifth slam win now!

Ahead of her Indian Wells campaign, she had an interaction with CNN, dated February 22. Revealing her goals for 2025, she said, “I have a lot of goals going forward. For as long as I can play, I really want to win Wimbledon and Roland Garros (the French Open) and get a career grand slam.” What are your thoughts on Osaka’s prospects this season? Will she make a deep run at the BNP Paribas Open this time? Let us know in the comments below.