Tennis fans are in for an exciting clash as Naomi Osaka prepares to face Liudmila Samsonova in the second round of the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal. The four-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1 has showcased glimpses of her past dominance this season, though she remains inconsistent.
Samsonova has steadily moved up within the top 20Â after a strong Wimbledon campaign, setting up what promises to be a compelling encounter for both players ahead of the upcoming U.S. Open.
How Has Naomi Osaka’s 2025 Season Unfolded?
Osaka’s 2025 campaign started well with a run to the Auckland final but was forced to retire due to an abdominal issue that also ended her Australian Open run in the third round against Belinda Bencic. After a disappointing French Open first-round exit and a tight three-set loss to Samsonova at Berlin, she rebounded by claiming her first WTA title since 2021 at the WTA 125 event in Saint-Malo. This marked her maiden clay-court trophy and represented a personal milestone following her maternity leave.
The journey back to form has been marked by physical setbacks and breakthrough moments. Her victory in Saint-Malo demonstrated that the explosive power and court coverage that made her a dominant force remain intact, even as she continues to regain full match fitness and competitive rhythm.
What Does the Head-to-Head Record Reveal?
Naomi Osaka and Liudmila Samsonova have faced off four times at the professional level, splitting their rivalry 2-2 overall. They’ve contested a total of 10 sets, with Osaka taking six sets to Samsonova’s four.
In fine form @naomiosaka secures a straight set victory against Arseneault to progress to the second round!#OBN25 pic.twitter.com/q0OcWtxoHO
— wta (@WTA) July 28, 2025
Their most recent encounter took place in the first round of the Berlin Tennis Open at the Rot-Weiss Tennis Club. The match was a tight three-setter where Osaka won the opening set 6-3, but Samsonova took control to claim the second in a tiebreak 7-6(3) and then secured the decider 6-4. That victory gave Samsonova momentum heading into this matchup, having proven she can handle Osaka’s power in extended rallies.
Match Details
- Fixture: Naomi Osaka vs Liudmila Samsonova
- Date: July 30, 2025
- Tournament: National Bank Open
- Round: Round of 64
- Venue: Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, Ontario
- Category: WTA 1000
- Surface: Outdoor hard
- Live telecast: Tennis Channel, Fubo, ESPN+, Sky Sports
How Do Their Playing Styles Match Up on Hard Courts?
Osaka excels on hard courts with her explosive serve and baseline power. She holds a 10-5 record on outdoor hard and averages 7.0 aces per match with 2.5 double faults. Meanwhile, Samsonova’s 9-8 record on the surface shows solid performance, but her game is built on consistency and deep returns rather than raw power.
While Osaka brings aggressive firepower, Samsonova defends well and forces errors with her ability to extend rallies and reset points. This creates an intriguing tactical battle between explosive aggression and steady persistence.
Osaka’s first-serve firepower serves as a major weapon, often giving her early control of points. However, Samsonova brings steadier numbers overall, with 59.3% first serves in, winning 68.2% of those points, and saving 53.3% of break points. Osaka wins a higher percentage of first-serve points but can falter under extended pressure, while Samsonova’s technique and composure in return games can give her control when rallies extend beyond the initial exchange.
The key battleground will likely be Osaka’s ability to dictate with her serve versus Samsonova’s capacity to neutralize that advantage and drag matches into the longer rallies where her consistency becomes a factor. Osaka’s aggressive start could earn her the opening set, but Samsonova’s endurance makes her dangerous in extended matches.
Having defeated Osaka in their last three-set meeting in Berlin, Samsonova enters with a confident edge and recent proof that she can handle the former world No. 1’s power game. If she limits errors and handles Osaka’s serve effectively in the early stages, she has the tools to secure another victory.
Prediction: Samsonova to win in three sets.
