When Naomi Osaka walked away from Wimbledon earlier this summer, she looked like a player out of answers. Her frustration had shifted into apathy, and she admitted she had “nothing positive to say” after a disappointing third-round exit.
Fast forward less than two months, and the four-time Grand Slam champion is smiling again. The 27-year-old former world number one has rediscovered her spark and now finds herself preparing for a US Open semi-final against Amanda Anisimova.
Clean ball-striking returns
Former British number one Annabel Croft described Osaka’s resurgence perfectly after watching her dismantle Coco Gauff in the fourth round.
“Her tennis looks like it did when she was winning titles here,” Croft said. “When Osaka is confident, her ball-striking is so clean. She takes control of the baseline, opens up the court, and suddenly points look effortless.”
That effortless rhythm is something fans hadn’t seen consistently since before Osaka took a 14-month break from the game following the birth of her daughter, Shai, in July 2023.
The coaching switch that changed everything
The turning point came after Wimbledon. Osaka decided to part ways with Patrick Mouratoglou and brought in Polish coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, best known for guiding Iga Swiatek to four majors.
At first, Osaka thought Wiktorowski seemed “too tough,” but she quickly discovered a softer side.
“He actually reminds me of a teddy bear when he smiles,” she said. “After matches, he’s not harsh at all—he’s encouraging, proud, and creates a safe space for me. That’s made a huge difference in how I express myself and my tennis.”
Confidence rebuilt
The change was immediate. Osaka reached the final in Montreal during her first tournament with Wiktorowski, defeating several top-25 opponents along the way. Her gritty win over Liudmila Samsonova and her dominant performance against Elina Svitolina, in particular, rebuilt her self-belief.
“Against Samsonova, I didn’t give up until the very last point,” Osaka said. “From that moment, I told myself to be the biggest fighter I can be.”
Although she lost in the final to Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, Osaka carried the momentum into New York.
A more measured approach
What’s striking about Osaka’s current run isn’t just her confidence, but also her tactical patience. Instead of blasting away at every opportunity, she’s choosing her moments to unleash her trademark baseline power, while forcing opponents into mistakes.
“She’s not the most creative player, but her rhythm, timing, and power are beautiful to watch,” Croft noted. “With her big serve opening up the court, she looks like a real threat to anyone left in the draw.”
Playing with joy again
Osaka herself is focused less on the results and more on enjoying the journey.
“In my first match here, I was too nervous to even smile. But against Gauff, I just wanted to be grateful and have fun,” she said. “I play my best when I’m happy and facing the best players.”
As she heads into her US Open semi-final, Osaka looks more relaxed and dangerous than she has in years. With a coach who brings out both her fight and her smile, the Japanese star may well be on the brink of another career-defining moment.
