SAINT-MALO, France — Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has made a triumphant return, seizing her first WTA title since her victory at the 2021 Australian Open — and on a surface she once considered her nemesis.
In an impressive performance, Osaka defeated Kaja Juvan with a score of 6-1, 7-5 on Sunday, claiming the coveted L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo — a WTA 125 tournament — and marking her inaugural triumph on clay.
This win also represents Osaka’s first WTA title since welcoming her child in July 2023 and returning to the tennis scene earlier this year.
“It’s quite ironic to earn my first trophy back on the surface I thought was my weakest,” Osaka expressed on X. “That’s one of the wonderful aspects of life — there is always room to grow and transform.”
“A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, but incredibly rewarding, and I am truly grateful.”
Following this victory, the former world No. 1 is set to ascend to No. 48 in the WTA rankings on Monday.
With two Australian Open and two U.S. Open titles under her belt on hard courts, Osaka has historically struggled at the French Open, even withdrawing from the clay-court tournament in 2021 before the second round to prioritize her mental health.
Osaka’s clay-court campaign kicked off with an early exit in the first round of the Madrid Open last month.
The French Open is set to begin on May 25.
