SAINT-MALO, France — Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam victor, has captured her first WTA title since her victory at the Australian Open in 2021, securing an unexpected triumph on a surface she once considered her weakest. Osaka emerged victorious over Kaja Juvan with a score of 6-1, 7-5 to claim the championship at L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo, a WTA 125 tournament, marking her first-ever title win on clay.
In an exciting twist, this win also represented her first WTA title since becoming a mother in July 2023, as she made a notable return to professional tennis at the beginning of the following year. Sharing her thoughts on X, Osaka humorously acknowledged the irony of her success on a challenging surface, stating, “Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst. That’s one of my favorite things about life though, there’s always room to grow and evolve.” She expressed gratitude to her supporters, appreciating both the turbulent and enjoyable moments of her journey.
The former world No. 1 will ascend to the 48th position in the WTA rankings starting Monday. While Osaka has enjoyed significant success with two Australian Open and two U.S. Open titles on hard courts, her record at the French Open has been less impressive. Notably, she withdrew from the 2021 French Open before the second round, prioritizing a break for mental health reasons.
At 27, Osaka’s current clay-court season began with an early exit in the first round of the Madrid Open last month. As the French Open approaches, set to commence on May 25, Osaka’s latest victory may signify promising developments in her clay-court performance and overall career resurgence.