The Rise And Fall Of Naomi Osaka

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The Rise And Fall Of Naomi Osaka
By Ken Miller, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 12:36pm PST USA

Melbourne-- In 2013 we heard that a tall baby faced soft spoken 15 year old tennis player; who had been born in Japan, already had a powerful serve and was named Naomi Osaka.

The next year in 2014, Osaka ranked 400th and playing as a qualifier, defeated the 19th ranked Australian Samantha Stosur 4-6, 7-6(7-4), 7-5 in the first round at Stanford, California.

In 2016 at age 19, Osaka was named the professional women's tennis tour's Newcomer of the Year.

Naomi Osaka of Japan

Osaka won four total grand slams between 2018 and 2021 while rising to the world's number one ranking in 2019.

At Wimbledon the following year in 2017, many tennis fans worldwide first saw Osaka compete on television on an international stage.

Osaka faced the powerful American and reigning Wimbledon champion Venus Williams and went toe to toe with Williams before falling 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.

Only a few weeks later in the opening round of the US Open, Osaka then ranked 45 upset the sixth seeded and ranked Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-3, 6-1 to post her first ever top ten victory.

In the next year 2018, Osaka found her best tennis to post her breakthrough year.

In March at Indian Wells, California, Osaka defeated top players including Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep of Romania to win her first ever professional tennis title.

Then in September at the US Open, Osaka defeated top players Aryna Sabalenka and the Americans Madison Keys and Serena Williams to score her first grand slam title.

Osaka won four total grand slams between 2018 and 2021 while rising to the world's number one ranking in 2019.

In 2021 Osaka drew worldwide attention to mental health issues after herself taking several mental health breaks from professional tennis.

Then in January of 2023 Osaka withdrew from the Australian Open due to pregnancy.

Osaka returned to professional tennis in January of 2024 and although she struggled with various injuries during the year, she bettered her ranking from number 831 to number 73.

Last year 2025 Osaka improved her ranking to number 15 behind strong results such as a US Open semifinal finish.

Last month in the opening round of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Osaka made a fashionable on court entrance appearing in a green jellyfish inspired dress which she styled with pleated long pants along with a white hat, long white veil and white umbrella.

Despite winning her first two rounds in Melbourne, Osaka was forced to withdraw from the tournament only hours before her third round match was scheduled to begin due to an abdominal injury.

Osaka suffered a similar abdominal injury last year in Melbourne before returning to the tennis tour in early March in Indian Wells, California.