In a breathtaking display of resilience, Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, pulled off a stunning comeback at the National Bank Open in Montreal on July 30, 2025, defeating No. 13 seed Liudmila Samsonova 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 to advance to the round of 16. The nearly three-hour thriller at IGA Stadium saw Osaka save three match points, erase a 2-5 deficit in a second-set tiebreak, and rediscover her championship form on the hard courts where she’s claimed all four of her major titles. This victory, her first over a top-20 player in 2025, marked a pivotal moment in her ongoing comeback and a triumphant debut with new coach Tomasz Wiktorowski.
Osaka, ranked No. 49, entered the match fresh off a 6-4, 6-2 win over Canadian qualifier Ariana Arseneault, but faced a formidable challenge in Samsonova, who had defeated her in their last meeting in Berlin. The Japanese star, returning to Montreal for the first time since 2018, struggled early as Samsonova’s powerful groundstrokes and relentless pressure secured the first set 6-4. By the second set, Osaka trailed 4-5 and faced two match points on Samsonova’s serve, with a third looming in the tiebreak. “I wasn’t thinking too much. It was very instinctual,” Osaka later said, echoing her mindset from a 2024 Toronto win over Ons Jabeur. Channeling that instinct, she unleashed a barrage of winners, including a crucial backhand down the line, to claw back and force a tiebreak, which she won 8-6 after overcoming a 2-5 deficit.
The third set showcased Osaka’s rediscovered fire. Down a break early, she leveled the score with a blistering forehand, her signature weapon that has defined her hard-court dominance. “When I play the best players, like [Samsonova], I tend to play better,” Osaka noted, a statement that rang true as she broke Samsonova’s serve twice in the decider to seal the 6-3 victory. Her 12 aces and 35 winners, despite 10 double faults, underscored her aggressive style, which has carried her to two US Open titles (2018, 2020) and two Australian Open crowns (2019, 2021). The Montreal crowd roared as Osaka converted her second match point, marking her first WTA 1000 round-of-16 appearance since the 2024 Beijing Open.
Osaka’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster. After missing 2023 due to maternity leave, she returned with a 21-11 record, highlighted by a WTA-125 title in Saint-Malo and a quarterfinal run at the Citi DC Open. Her split with coach Patrick Mouratoglou, announced just days before Montreal, added intrigue to her campaign. “Merci Patrick, it was such a great experience learning from you,” Osaka posted on July 27, expressing gratitude to the coach who guided Serena Williams to 10 majors. Now under Wiktorowski, Iga Swiatek’s former coach, Osaka showed encouraging signs, with fans on social media buzzing about her “remarkable comeback” and “never-say-die spirit.”
The match against Samsonova, ranked No. 16, was a testament to Osaka’s mental fortitude. Her 29% return game success rate, a weakness earlier this season, improved as she capitalized on Samsonova’s 38 unforced errors. This win sets up a third-round clash with either No. 22 Jelena Ostapenko or Renata Zarazua, offering Osaka a chance to build on her 2019 Montreal quarterfinal run, her best result at the tournament. “Being back in Montreal is great, and it’s definitely refreshing,” Osaka said, relishing her return to the hard courts where she’s most comfortable.
Osaka’s journey, from her 2014 WTA debut upsetting Samantha Stosur at age 16 to her historic No. 1 ranking as the first Asian player to achieve it, has been marked by triumphs and challenges. Her 2021 French Open withdrawal to prioritize mental health and her 2023 maternity leave underscored her resilience. Now, as a mother to daughter Shai, Osaka is driven by a new perspective. “I hate disappointing people,” she said after a tough 2025 French Open loss to Paula Badosa, reflecting on her desire to honor her team and fans. In Montreal, she delivered, proving that the “hard-court kid” who once toppled Serena Williams is far from finished. As the US Open looms, Osaka’s miraculous Montreal comeback signals her intent to reclaim her place among tennis’ elite.
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