Naomi Osaka’s Stunning 2025 Comeback: How Motherhood Is Powering Her Return to Grand Slam Glory

Naomi Osaka’s road back to the WTA elite takes its next pivotal turn this week at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open 2025, where the four-time major champion has drawn rising Canadian star Leylah Fernandez in a blockbuster first-round encounter. The match, slated for Monday night local time (11 p.m. ET), marks Osaka’s first appearance in Wuhan since giving birth to daughter Shai last year and comes on the heels of her third-round exit at the China Open, a defeat that still left plenty of encouraging signs in her rebuilt game. Tournament organisers dealt Osaka a tougher-than-expected path when the draw was released, positioning her in the same quarter as world No. 2 Iga Świątek and recent Beijing champion Amanda Anisimova. Yet the 27-year-old enters China’s premier fall swing buoyed by a 34-12 record since returning in January and—perhaps more importantly—renewed confidence in her serve, which topped 119 mph in Beijing. Key storylines to watch • Comeback momentum: Osaka has already logged wins over top-20 opponents Daria Kasatkina and Beatriz Haddad Maia this season, evidence that her trademark first-strike tennis is resurfacing at crunch time. • Battle of US Open finalists: Osaka edged Fernandez in their lone tour meeting, the 2021 US Open final, a straight-sets victory remembered for its electric baseline exchanges. Fernandez, now 23, has climbed back to No. 31 thanks to an aggressive return game that could test Osaka’s serve under pressure. • Motherhood milestone: Wuhan marks the first tournament where Osaka’s daughter travels on-site with her for the full week, a change the former No. 1 says “keeps tennis in perspective and makes every match feel like bonus time.” What it means for the rankings Currently No. 18, Osaka can return to the top 15 by reaching the quarter-finals and would crack the top 10 for the first time since 2022 with a title run. That ascent would drastically improve her seeding at the WTA Finals and the 2026 Australian Open, two events she has already circled publicly. How to watch and live stream • United States: Tennis Channel and TC+ will carry live coverage starting at 11 p.m. ET Monday. • Canada: TSN5 simulcasts the world feed; RDS2 provides French commentary. • International: WTA TV streams every court with on-demand replays. Match prediction If Osaka’s first-serve percentage hovers above 65 percent, her forehand patterns should control the rallies and neutralize Fernandez’s counterpunching. Expect a tight opener but Osaka in three sets, setting up a potential round-of-16 duel with hometown favorite Zheng Qinwen. Quick stats • Head-to-head: Osaka leads 1-0. • 2025 hard-court record: Osaka 27-9, Fernandez 25-11. • Aces in 2025: Osaka 297 (6th on tour). Bottom line Naomi Osaka’s Wuhan Open debut offers a litmus test for her post-maternity comeback and a tantalizing rematch with one of the tour’s most dynamic shot-makers. With ranking points, motherly motivation and a marquee night-session slot on the line, Monday’s clash promises prime-time drama and a fresh chapter in Osaka’s evolving return to the spotlight.