Naomi Osaka may have fallen short of a place in the US Open 2025 final, but the Japanese tennis star has rediscovered her spark and motivation to push forward. Returning to top form after her long maternity break, Osaka’s semi-final performance against Amanda Anisimova proved she still has the weapons to compete at the very highest level of the sport.
Osaka fired 15 aces, committed fewer unforced errors than her opponent, and stayed competitive throughout the near three-hour battle. Despite leading for significant portions of the match, she eventually bowed out 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-3 in a thrilling contest that highlighted both her resilience and Anisimova’s fearless shot-making.
Rather than feeling disappointed, Osaka expressed renewed inspiration. “I don’t feel sad. I just feel I gave everything I could,” she shared post-match. “It makes me want to train harder, improve, and keep going.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion has had a challenging return since her 17-month maternity leave, initially struggling to find her rhythm and facing early-round exits. But recent results show her steady progress. A runner-up finish at the Montreal Masters and now a US Open semi-final appearance have boosted her confidence and secured her rise back into the world’s top 20 rankings.
Osaka credits much of her improvement to her new coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, who has helped refine her return game and instilled patience in rallies. Their partnership is still new but already yielding results, with Osaka expected to climb as high as No.14 in the world rankings after New York.
Reflecting on her comeback journey, Osaka admitted feeling pressure when comparing herself to other mothers on the WTA Tour who found immediate success. However, her deep run at the US Open has given her reassurance that her time is coming. “I felt like I was losing a race before, but now I feel like a weight has been lifted,” she explained.
With the Asian swing and the season’s closing tournaments ahead, Osaka is setting her sights higher. “Getting far in the US Open was definitely a confidence booster. The season isn’t over, and I want to finish strong,” she declared.
The loss may have ended her title bid in New York, but it has reignited her drive and reaffirmed her belief that she can still capture more Grand Slam titles in the future.
