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5 hours ago
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After a confidence-boosting week in Saint-Malo, France, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has officially decided her final tournament appearance before the prestigious Roland Garros later this month.
The news was confirmed by her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, who took to social media on Sunday to reflect on their time at the WTA 125K event in Saint-Malo.
“Time to go to Rome after a great week at the 125K in Saint-Malo, France,” Mouratoglou wrote. “Great work, a lot of wins, and great memories with great people.”
Osaka’s run in Saint-Malo, while not on the main WTA Tour, gave her crucial match time as she continues her comeback journey following maternity leave and time away from the sport. Her presence in lower-tier events has been a calculated effort to regain form and familiarity on clay.
Naomi Osaka (JPN) reacts after winning the first set against Liudmila Samsonova (not pictured) on day three of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The Rome Open will be Osaka’s biggest clay-court test yet this season, as she prepares to face top-tier competition. The tournament is widely considered a key warm-up event for Roland Garros, drawing nearly all of the sport's biggest names and offering a chance to fine-tune form on the red dirt. The conditions at Rome will be far similar to Roland Garros than those at Madrid.
While Osaka has never advanced past the third round in Rome or Paris, her recent performances have shown flashes of promise and more importantly she has Patrick Mouratoglou on her side. Mouratoglou also shared a few unseen videos of Naomi’s shot making in France, and they definitely are proof of how well Osaka is moving on the clay.
With Mouratoglou guiding her return, Osaka has taken a measured approach, focusing on rebuilding rhythm and fitness while gradually re-entering elite-level play. Her time in Saint-Malo not only offered match practice but also a return to dominating the rallies and dictating play. It also might have been Patrick’s intention to remind Osaka of her prowess and place in the WTA circuit.
For now, the focus is on Rome. And after a productive week in France, Naomi Osaka seems ready to take the next step as she looks to balance tennis, motherhood and mental health, all while remaining injury free.
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