Jun 26 (newsonjapan.com) - Naomi Osaka is no longer an up-and-coming contender, with the 23-year-old sitting second in the WTA rankings.
With four Grand Slams to her name, the Japanese player is closing in on equalling the triumphs of former greats, including Maria Sharapova and Martina Hingis, who both have five major titles to their name. Not only that, but Osaka will also have aspirations of establishing herself as an Australian and US Open great. So, how much success can the 23-year-old enjoy at hard-court tournaments throughout her career?
Triumphing in 2018 and 2020
After turning professional in 2013, it took Osaka five years to win her first Grand Slam. In many ways, her maiden triumph marked a significant changing of the guard for women’s tennis, with the 23-year-old defeating Serena Williams in straight sets. En route to lifting the US Open in 2018, Osaka only dropped one set in the entire competition, which came against Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round. Although she fell short in 2019, suffering a fourth-round defeat to Belinda Bencic, she responded in an emphatic fashion in 2020.
In 2020, Osaka had to show more sides to her game, dealing with the pressure of final-set deciders and falling behind in the final. However, the 23-year-old stood up to the challenge, bouncing back from a 6-1 opening set setback to defeat Victoria Azarenka in the final. In achieving this feat, the right-hander became the first Asian-born player to win three Grand Slam singles titles. The US Open has been a happy hunting ground for Osaka, who continues to make history at the event. Upon winning her first title at the New York-based competition in 2018, she also became the first Japanese Grand Slam winner.
A Master of the Synthetic Surface
For all of Osaka’s talent, it’s not outlandish to suggest that she’s a master of hard-court surfaces. To date, each of her four Grand Slam triumphs has come on acrylic courts. Aside from two US Open titles, the 23-year-old also has two Australian Open honours to her name. It speaks volumes about her ability that she’s won one hard-court Grand Slam each year since 2018. Due to her history at these competitions, Osaka is 7/2 in the latest tennis odds to win the Australian Open for a third time in 2022, as of June 24th.
There’s nothing to say that Osaka won’t establish herself as a multi-surface specialist, although her record shows that she’s better suited to the Australian and US Open. Thus far in her career, the Japanese right-hander has competed at Wimbledon on three occasions, but she’s never reached the fourth round. Historically, Osaka also struggles on clay, with her best finish at the French Open also being the third round.
Osaka Ups Her Game on Hard Courts
It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Osaka will triumph at the French Open or Wimbledon during the rest of her career. However, few can argue that her game doesn’t reach another level on hard courts. The 23-year-old is a master of synthetic surfaces, and it’ll take some effort to stop her from winning more Grand Slams in Australia and the US.
