Naomi Osaka’s Triumphant Italian Open Comeback—First Title as a Mom

Lead Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has recorded her first grass-court victory of 2025, reigniting hopes of a deep Wimbledon run just 18 months after returning from maternity leave. Momentum on Grass Competing at the Bad Homburg Open in Germany, Osaka defeated world No. 34 Linda Nosková 6-4, 7-6(4) to notch her maiden tour win on grass since 2021. The result comes only a week after a narrow first-round exit in Berlin and offers tangible proof that her remodeled serve and improved movement are translating to faster surfaces. Ranking Rise Currently ranked No. 56, Osaka is projected to climb inside the top 50 next Monday and could be seeded at Wimbledon if she wins two more matches in Bad Homburg. Seed protection would shield her from early showdowns with top-10 opponents, a pivotal advantage as she attempts to replicate her 2021 Australian Open–US Open double. Tactical Tweaks • Serve velocity: Osaka is averaging 117 mph on first serves this week, up 3 mph from clay season. • Return position: She has moved two feet inside the baseline on second-serve returns, producing 38 percent return winners. • Fitness gains: The 27-year-old credits sprint work added by new trainer Azusa Fukuda for sharper change-of-direction ability on grass. Motherhood & Motivation Osaka says daughter Shai, born July 2023, has re-framed her competitive mindset. “Every match feels like house money now. I play, then I FaceTime her and the result already fades,” she told German reporters after the win. Road to Wimbledon 2025 • Bad Homburg Open – Round of 16 vs. Emma Navarro (H2H 1-1) • Exhibition in Eastbourne (if schedule permits) • Wimbledon main draw begins 30 June Analysts’ View ESPN commentator and former world No. 1 Andy Roddick believes Osaka’s serve is the single biggest wildcard in the women’s draw. “If she lands north of 70 percent first serves, the grass rewards her more than any other surface,” he said, adding that Osaka’s past Grand Slam pedigree makes her “a nightmare floater” for higher seeds. SEO Takeaway Naomi Osaka’s first grass-court win of 2025, ranking surge, and evolving game plan have positioned her as one of the most intriguing storylines heading into Wimbledon. Fans searching for “Naomi Osaka comeback,” “Osaka grass results,” and “Osaka Wimbledon 2025” will find a player peaking at just the right time—and a tournament draw that suddenly looks a lot more unpredictable.