Naomi Osaka’s path back to tennis’s biggest stages has reached an emotional high point at the 2025 US Open, where she has booked a spot in the semifinals. The four-time Major champion, who stepped away from the game in 2022 and became a mother in 2023, said her journey has been marked by self-doubt and the pressure of measuring herself against other returning players.
After defeating Karolína Muchová in the quarterfinals, Osaka admitted that reaching this stage felt like a weight lifted off her shoulders. For someone who once dominated the sport’s biggest moments, this semifinal berth represents more than just another tournament milestone.
How Did Naomi Osaka Rebuild Her Form After Stepping Away from the Tour?
Osaka’s return has been one of the most closely watched storylines in tennis this year. She reentered the tour at the Brisbane International in early 2024, starting slowly as she rebuilt her match fitness and confidence on court. The breakthrough momentum arrived in 2025, showing flashes of the form that made her a household name.
In January, she reached the Auckland final before retiring with an abdominal issue after winning the first set against Clara Tauson. While the injury was disappointing, the run to the final showed Osaka could compete at the highest level again.
Four months later in Saint-Malo, Osaka collected her first trophy since 2021 and her first title as a mother, beating Kaja Juvan 6-1, 7-5 at the WTA 125 event. The victory marked a crucial turning point in her comeback journey. In Montreal, she reached her first WTA 1000 final since 2022, falling to 18-year-old Victoria Mboko in three sets, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.
NAOMI OSAKA’S US OPEN RUN CONTINUES
She is now 5-0 in Major quarterfinals pic.twitter.com/vB5Xcu2pSC
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 4, 2025
Her New York campaign has been equally telling. She opened with straight-set wins against Greet Minnen and Hailey Baptiste before rallying past Daria Kasatkina in the third round. A marquee victory over defending champion Coco Gauff in the Round of 16 followed, where Osaka recovered after dropping a tight first set to dominate the next two.
She then defeated 11th seed Muchová in straight sets, extending her perfect 5-0 record in Slam quarterfinals. She will now take on home favorite Amanda Anisimova in the semifinal.
What Mental Challenges Has Osaka Faced During Her Comeback?
Speaking with ESPN after her quarterfinal win, Osaka reflected on the pressures she has felt since returning: “It’s definitely a different perspective, I’m really inspired by all the moms on tour. I also have this feeling like I’m not doing good enough or I’m being left behind.”
“When all the moms came back and they did well off the bat, I felt like there was something wrong with me. I know that Belinda made the semis of Wimbledon, so I just really felt like I was losing a race in some weird way. That was on my mind, and now I’m here and I feel like a weight’s been lifted off my shoulders.”
The candid admission reveals the internal struggles that accompanied her physical comeback. While fans celebrated her return to competition, Osaka was battling expectations and comparisons that went beyond simple match results.
MORE: Naomi Osaka Emotional, Her Mother in Tears As She Reaches Third US Open Semifinal After Prolonged Struggles
Osaka’s reference to Belinda Bencic highlighted the Swiss player’s inspiring return, which saw her win the 2025 Abu Dhabi Open and reach Wimbledon semifinals after giving birth to her daughter, Bella, last year. Similarly, Elina Svitolina has staged an impressive resurgence since becoming a mother in 2022, reaching quarterfinals and beyond in five Grand Slam tournaments.
These success stories, while inspiring, created additional pressure for Osaka as she worked to find her own rhythm on tour. Now, with her semifinal berth secured, she has proven that every player’s journey back to the top follows its own timeline.
