“You have to have the will to fight harder than the next person, and I feel like I’ve finally found that again.“said Naomi Osaka, who started 2025 with a powerful statement, on Wednesday. The former world No. 1 returned to the spotlight by reaching her first WTA Tour quarter-final in six months, defeating Julia Grabher 7-5, 6-3 at the ASB Classic in Auckland. Osaka, who admitted she wasn’t one confrontational Person, has caught the attention of a former WTA professional player who was best known for her tantrums on the court!

Last year wasn’t a walk in the park for the four-time Grand Slam winner. Osaka returned from maternity leave after the birth of her daughter Shai in 2023 and faced a difficult path. She never made it past the second round of a Grand Slam or the Paris Olympics, and a back injury in October shortened her season. Their final record for the year, 22-17, reflected their struggles. Speaking about her journey in an interview ahead of the Auckland Open, she admitted: “I I think 2024 has humbled me, but I also feel like I’ve grown a lot. I worked much harder than I ever have before.”

Despite the challenges, Osaka remained determined to turn things around and her resilience did not go unnoticed by former WTA pro Coco Vandeweghe.

On January 2, the Tennis Channel podcast team of Vandeweghe, Steve Weissman and Prakash Amritraj analyzed the United Cup semifinals and Osaka’s performance at the ASB Classic. Steve, the show’s host, remembered what she said after their United Cup game.

“I thought about it last year, but I’m not a really confrontational person. But when you’re on the pitch, it’s like a boxing match. You have to have the will to fight harder than the next person, and I feel like I’ve finally found that will again. So I’m just really grateful for that,” Osaka said.

Vandeweghe praised the Japanese star’s resilience, saying: “I think it’s the will to fight and the will to win because that’s what makes the difference when the going gets tough and your back is against the wall. Can you then apply pressure? Can you find the next aisle?”

She added: “Last year Naomi was still finding herself, finding the new Naomi because she had always relied on the old Naomi… Now it’s a different Naomi. She plays with a different motivation. And I think it’s really nice to see that she still has that fire in her belly.”

This fire has shaped the career of the four-time Grand Slam champion. In 2018, she shocked the world by defeating Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4 in the US Open final to win her first Grand Slam. She then claimed three more major titles: the 2019 Australian Open, the 2020 US Open and the 2021 Australian Open. These victories cemented her place in history as the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title and the first woman to do so since Serena Williams in 2015, who won two consecutive major tournaments.

However, things took a difficult turn after her triumph at the 2021 Australian Open.

Osaka began to struggle with mental health issues and even publicly expressed that she no longer enjoyed winning. These issues, coupled with injuries and time away from the sport, made for a bumpy road ahead. But while the 27-year-old is ready to defy anything, she has also given herself an ultimatum.

Naomi Osaka declares she won’t “stay” long

Naomi Osaka has made it clear that while she will give it her all this season, if the results aren’t satisfactory, she might just hang up the racket.

Before the ABS Classic, she hinted in an interview that she might quit the sport if she didn’t live up to her own standards. “I don’t think I’m the type of player to hang aroundOsaka told reporters. “I have a lot of respect for all the players on the tour, but at the point in my life that I’m at right now, unless I’m above a certain rank, I don’t see myself playing for a while. I would rather spend time with my daughter when I’m not where I should be and where I feel I can be.”

Osaka is currently ranked 57th and is focused on climbing back up the rankings and making a name for itself once again. She will face the winner of the Hailey Baptiste-Jodie Burrage match on Friday, potentially securing her first career semifinal since returning from maternity leave in 2024.

The ASB Classic is an important preparation for the Australian Open, which begins on January 12th. Osaka’s last appearance in Melbourne ended in a disappointing first-round defeat, but this time she is determined to write a different story. With her newfound determination and fire, can Osaka repeat the glory of her Australian Open victories in 2019 and 2021?