Naomi Osaka showed immense grit and determination as she fought through injury to book her place in the quarter-finals of the Japan Open on Wednesday. The top seed overcame defending champion Suzan Lamens in an emotional three-set thriller, winning 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 6-2 in front of her home fans.
This tournament marks Osaka’s first singles appearance in Japan in three years, making the victory even more special. However, the win did not come without challenges. The former world number one was cruising with a 5-0 lead in the final set when she suddenly required a medical timeout to receive treatment on her left leg. After a brief break, she returned to the court with heavy strapping on her thigh.
Despite losing the next two games, Osaka managed to hold her nerve and seal the match after two hours and twenty minutes of intense play. The emotional climax came as she hit a decisive backhand winner, then bent over and appeared to fight back tears before approaching the net for the post-match handshake.
“It was definitely really difficult. I’m kind of sorry about my attitude,” Osaka said afterward, visibly emotional and struggling to continue due to the pain. Her on-court interview had to be cut short as she continued to receive medical attention.
The victory sets up a quarter-final clash with Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian, as Osaka continues her comeback journey. The 27-year-old has been steadily rebuilding her form since returning to the tour in early 2024 after giving birth to her daughter.
Osaka’s resurgence has been marked by flashes of her old brilliance. Earlier this year, she reached the semi-finals of the US Open before falling to Amanda Anisimova, her best Grand Slam performance since winning the Australian Open in 2021.
Ranked 16th in the world, Osaka has endured a turbulent few seasons, struggling to get past the early rounds of major tournaments. Her perseverance and emotional resilience in Osaka City now signal that she may be regaining the confidence and power that once made her one of the most dominant forces in women’s tennis.
As she prepares for the next round, all eyes will be on whether Osaka can recover from her leg injury and continue her inspiring run toward another title on home soil.
