“You need to have the will to fight more than the other person, and I feel like I finally found that again,” Naomi Osaka, who started 2025 with a powerful statement, said on Wednesday. The former World No. 1 made her return to the spotlight by reaching her first WTA Tour quarterfinal in six months, defeating Julia Grabher 7-5, 6-3 at the ASB Classic in Auckland. Osaka, who admitted to not being a confrontational person, has caught the attention of an ex-WTA pro, who was best known for her angry on-court outbursts!

Last year was no walk in the park for the four-time Grand Slam champion. Returning from maternity leave after giving birth to her daughter Shai in 2023, Osaka faced a tough road. She didn’t advance past the second round in any Grand Slam or the Paris Olympics, and a back injury in October cut her season short. Her final record for the year, 22-17, reflected her struggles. Talking about her journey in an interview before the Auckland Open, she admitted, “I think 2024 humbled me, but I also feel like I grew a lot. I worked way harder than I’ve ever worked before.” 

Despite the challenges, Osaka remained determined to turn things around and her resilience has not gone unnoticed by an ex WTA pro, Coco Vandeweghe.

On January 2nd, the ‘Tennis Channel’ podcast team, including Vandeweghe, Steve Weissman, and Prakash Amritraj, analyzed the United Cup semifinals and Osaka’s performance at the ASB Classic. Steve, the show’s host, recalled what said after her United Cup match.

“I was thinking about this last year, but I’m not a really confrontational person. But when you’re on the court, it’s like you’re in a boxing match. You need to have the will to fight more than the other person and I feel like I finally found that again. So I’m just really grateful for that,” said Osaka.

Vandeweghe, praising the Japanese star’s resilience, said, “I think it is the will to fight and the will to win because that’s the difference maker of when the chips are down and your back’s against the wall, can you push? Can you find that next gear?” 

She added, “Last year, Naomi was still finding herself, finding the Naomi of new because she was always banking on the Naomi of old… Now it’s a different Naomi. She’s playing with a different motivation. And I think it’s really nice to see that she still has that fire in the belly.”

That fire has defined the 4-time Grand Slam champion’s career. In 2018, she shocked the world by defeating Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4 in the US Open final to win her first Grand Slam. She went on to claim three more major titles: the 2019 Australian Open, the 2020 US Open, and the 2021 Australian Open. These victories cemented her place in history as the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title and the first woman since Serena Williams in 2015 to win back-to-back majors.

However, after her 2021 Australian Open triumph, things took a difficult turn.

Osaka began grappling with mental health challenges, even publicly expressing that winning no longer brought her joy. These struggles, coupled with injuries and time away from the sport, created a bumpy road ahead. But while the 27-year-old is ready to brave it all, she has also given herself an ultimatum.

Naomi Osaka states she won’t ‘hang around’ for a long time

Naomi Osaka has made it clear that while she will put in her all for this season, if it does not yield good results, she might just hang up her racket.

Ahead of the ABS Classic, in an interview, she hinted the possibility of stepping away from the sport if she doesn’t meet her own standards. “I don’t think I’m the type of player that would hang around,” Osaka told reporters. “I have a lot of respect for all the players on tour, but the point of my life that I’m at right now, if I’m not above a certain ranking, I don’t see myself playing for a while. I’d rather spend time with my daughter if I’m not where I think I should be and where I feel like I can be.”

Currently ranked No. 57, Osaka is focused on climbing back up the rankings and making her mark once again. She will face the victor of the Hailey Baptiste-Jodie Burrage match on Friday, potentially securing her first career semi-final since returning from maternity leave in 2024.

The ASB Classic is an important lead-up to the Australian Open, which begins on January 12. Osaka’s last appearance in Melbourne ended in a disappointing first-round loss, but this time, she’s determined to write a different story. With her newfound determination and fire, can Osaka replicate the glory of her 2019 and 2021 Australian Open wins?