In a gripping display of resilience under the Miami sun, Naomi Osaka emerged victorious after a grueling three-hour marathon at the 2025 Miami Open, setting the stage for a bold declaration that has the tennis world buzzing. The former world No. 1 battled her way past qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva in a first-round clash that tested every ounce of her physical and mental fortitude, ultimately clinching a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win. As the Hard Rock Stadium crowd roared its approval, Osaka didn’t just celebrate a hard-fought victory—she staked a claim to reclaim her place among the sport’s elite, vowing to “play with the big dogs” once more.
The match was a rollercoaster from the start. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, found herself on the ropes early as Starodubtseva, a Ukrainian upstart riding the momentum of two qualifying wins, stormed to a 5-0 lead in the first set. The 27-year-old Japanese star, still fine-tuning her comeback after a 15-month maternity break, looked rattled, her shots sailing long and her rhythm elusive. But as the Miami heat intensified, so did Osaka’s resolve. “I knew that I wasn’t playing too well, but I thought, ‘let me try to stay on the court as long as possible,’” she reflected after the match, her words carrying the weight of a warrior unwilling to surrender. For her, Miami isn’t just another tournament—it’s home turf, a place where she reached the final in 2022, and that connection fueled her fightback.
Down a set and a break at 3-6, 4-2, Osaka flipped the script. She leaned into her athleticism, chasing down every ball with a determination that echoed her championship days. “I was going to run into every corner if I had to, and we were going to have to play for three hours if she was going to beat me,” she said, a steely glint in her eye. Her legs became her weapon, a stark contrast to the overhitting that plagued her in a dismal Indian Wells loss two weeks prior, which she’d called the “worst match I’ve ever played in my life.” In Miami, she adjusted, dialing back the power and letting her movement dictate the pace. The second set turned on a crucial break, and by the third, Osaka had seized control, breaking Starodubtseva’s serve four times across the match and firing 10 aces to seal her triumph after two hours and 28 minutes.
This wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. Osaka’s post-match comments radiated ambition and a hunger to reclaim her spot at the top. “I want to play with the big dogs so bad,” she declared, her voice brimming with longing as she watched her peers excel. “I just see everyone playing so well, and I want to do the same.” It’s a sentiment that harkens back to her peak, when she dominated hard courts and hoisted trophies at the Australian Open and US Open. Since returning in 2024 after giving birth to her daughter Shai, Osaka has faced setbacks—early exits at majors, injuries like the abdominal strain that forced her to retire in the Australian Open third round in January—but this Miami performance hints at a resurgence. Her 4-0 record in three-set matches this year underscores a grit that’s been her hallmark, even as she rebuilds her game under coach Patrick Mouratoglou, the mastermind behind Serena Williams’ late-career success.
The road ahead is daunting. Next up is No. 24 seed Liudmila Samsonova, a player Osaka has split two matches with in 2024, including a three-set thriller in Madrid. Beyond that, a potential third-round clash with fourth seed Jasmine Paolini looms if she keeps her momentum. Yet, Osaka’s Miami run feels like a turning point. After a frustrating stretch—her last title came at the 2021 Australian Open, and she hasn’t advanced past a major’s third round since—this victory over Starodubtseva, ranked No. 108, is a spark. The crowd felt it, too, their cheers a reminder of the electric atmosphere she thrives in.
For Osaka, this isn’t just about one match. It’s about proving she belongs again, about silencing the doubts that crept in during her time away. As she left the court, her words lingered: a promise to herself and the tennis world that the “big dog” is ready to bark once more. With the Miami Open unfolding through March 30, all eyes are on her to see if this marathon triumph is the start of a roaring comeback.
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