Naomi Osaka has always been one to speak candidly about the highs and lows of her career, and her latest revelation about a critical choice before the 2025 French Open is no exception. The four-time Grand Slam champion recently opened up about the pivotal advice from her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, that pushed her out of her comfort zone — and ultimately onto a winning path.
Leading up to Roland Garros, Osaka found herself at a crossroads. After a less-than-satisfactory performance at the Madrid Open, doubts about her clay-court form lingered. Despite her evident talent and powerful baseline game, clay has historically been her most challenging surface. Knowing this, Mouratoglou suggested something that Osaka admits she initially struggled to accept: competing in a WTA 125-level event, the L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo.
The French tournament, while not as prestigious or high-profile as a WTA 1000 or a Grand Slam, presented an opportunity to gain crucial match play and build confidence on clay. For Osaka, however, the idea of stepping down a level felt like a hit to her pride.
“At first, I didn’t want to play the tournament,” Osaka confessed in a post-match interview. “It felt like I was taking a step back. But Patrick was very clear — he told me that sometimes you have to make difficult decisions for the sake of progress.”
That tough decision paid off. With determination and focus, Osaka powered through the field at Saint-Malo and ultimately claimed the title, defeating Kaja Juvan 6-1, 7-5 in the final. The win marked her first tournament victory since 2021, a drought that included time away from the tour for maternity leave and a slow return to form.
“It’s been a long time since I held a trophy,” Osaka shared with a smile. “Winning here meant more than I thought it would. It reminded me of who I am as a competitor.”
While some may have viewed the tournament as a minor stepping stone, for Osaka, it was a crucial part of regaining her footing and confidence. Beyond the title, the experience of grinding out matches on clay gave her valuable rhythm and tactical sharpness — qualities she will need in abundance as she heads into the French Open.
Now, Osaka is preparing to face Paula Badosa in the first round of Roland Garros, a high-stakes matchup that will test her progress on the dirt. Yet, thanks to her time in Saint-Malo, she’s entering the tournament with a much-needed psychological and strategic boost.
“Playing in Saint-Malo humbled me,” she said. “But it also strengthened me. I understand now that sometimes you have to take a detour to get where you want to go.”
With Mouratoglou by her side and a renewed sense of self-belief, Naomi Osaka’s French Open journey is already off to a meaningful start. Whether or not she goes deep into the draw, one thing is certain: the foundation for her clay-court comeback has been solidly laid.