Naomi Osaka, who has struggled with her relationship with Wimbledon in the past, feels ready to break free of the fear that once held her back on the fast-paced grass surface. The Japanese tennis star, known for her success on hard courts where she has claimed four Grand Slam titles, has never quite found her rhythm on the green lawns of Wimbledon. Throughout her career, Osaka has participated in the tournament only four times and has struggled to make a lasting impact, winning only five matches, with her best results coming in the third round in 2017 and 2018.
However, after a commanding 6-3, 6-2 win over Czech player Katerina Siniakova, Osaka has reached the third round of Wimbledon once again, matching her best-ever performance at the All England Club. This victory has fueled her belief that she is finally overcoming her fear of playing on grass.
Naomi Osaka explained that when she was younger, fear wasn’t a factor for her. “When I was younger, I had no fear,” she reflected. “But as I grew older, fear crept in and, in a way, paralyzed me. Now, I’m slowly moving past that and trying to spread my wings on grass. I think it’s working and I’m moving pretty well.”
The 27-year-old, ranked 53rd, has been on a comeback journey after taking a maternity leave in 2023. With each match, she feels increasingly comfortable on the grass courts, believing that this could be the year she goes deeper into the tournament. After a couple of straight-set wins, Osaka’s upcoming challenge is to face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a player she hasn’t lost to since 2017. Should she succeed, Naomi Osaka will make it to the last 16 at Wimbledon for the first time in her career.
Her confidence has been boosted by the fact that the highest-seeded players she could face before a potential semifinal are ranked 13th (Amanda Anisimova) and 30th (Linda Noskova), neither of whom are renowned grasscourt specialists. With a relaxed and confident mindset, Naomi Osaka is feeling hopeful that this could be the year she advances further.
Reflecting on her growth, she said, “I definitely feel a lot more comfortable moving on grass this year. I used to be scared to move because of past injuries, but now I feel a lot better.”
As she continues to build her momentum, Osaka’s progress at Wimbledon serves as a reminder that overcoming mental barriers, such as fear, can be just as important as physical conditioning in sports.
With her daughter Shai celebrating her second birthday, Osaka’s determination to do well in this tournament is even more personal. As she prepares to face Pavlyuchenkova, Naomi Osaka’s journey to overcome fear and embrace her grasscourt game shows that with time, the right mindset, and determination, anything is possible.