Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, is no stranger to the spotlight, but her recent comments at the Italian Open in Rome have turned heads for their warmth and candor. After a gritty 2-6, 7-6, 6-1 comeback victory over Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic, the Japanese superstar opened up about her admiration for Jelena Ostapenko, naming the Latvian as her favorite player on the WTA Tour. “People know I say [Jelena] Ostapenko is probably my favorite player,” Osaka said, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. “I really love her a lot. I think she’s the exact polar opposite of me. She’s just fun to me.” The admission, delivered with a smile, highlights a fascinating contrast between two of tennis’s most dynamic personalities.
Osaka and Ostapenko, both former world number ones, couldn’t be more different on the court. Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion, is a firebrand known for her explosive, all-or-nothing style. Her aggressive baseline game, punctuated by thunderous winners and occasional errors, thrives on instinct and audacity. Osaka, by contrast, blends power with precision, her measured approach and steely focus making her a clutch performer in high-stakes moments. “I think we are polar opposites in a way,” Osaka had previously noted before their 2024 US Open clash, a sentiment she echoed in Rome. Yet, it’s Ostapenko’s uninhibited flair that captivates Osaka, who finds her rival’s unpredictability “insane” and endlessly entertaining.
Osaka’s admiration doesn’t stop with Ostapenko. She also singled out Belinda Bencic, another player she considers a “polar opposite” for her consistency. “Bencic, I really respect her a lot and also think she’s a polar opposite of me in terms of, you can count on her to win the matches she’s supposed to,” Osaka said. “Me, I’m a little more of a wild card.” Bencic, who returned to the tour after maternity leave, has been “killing it” in 2025, according to Osaka, with a WTA 500 title under her belt. Ostapenko, too, has shone brightly, clinching the Stuttgart title and advancing to the Italian Open third round with a hard-fought win over Rebecca Sramkova. “They definitely push me a lot,” Osaka added, crediting both players for inspiring her to elevate her game.
The context of Osaka’s comments adds depth to her praise. Her 2025 season has been a rollercoaster, marked by a promising run to the Auckland final, a third-round retirement at the Australian Open due to an abdominal injury, and a first-round loss at Indian Wells that she called the “worst” of her career. In Rome, her victory over Golubic showcased her resilience, as she battled back from a set and a half down, refusing to let self-doubt win. “I just thought to myself: ‘I’m pretty sure I’m losing because I’m making all the errors,’” she said, recalling how she forced Golubic to “play the absolute best game of her life” to close out the match. That tenacity, honed under coach Patrick Mouratoglou, reflects Osaka’s determination to reclaim her place among the elite.
Osaka’s nod to Ostapenko and Bencic also underscores her humility. Despite her own glittering resume—two US Open titles, two Australian Opens, and a former world number one ranking—she remains a fan at heart, inspired by her peers’ triumphs. Ostapenko’s recent form, including a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Sramkova, sets her up for a fourth-round clash with Laura Siegemund, while Bencic’s Italian Open campaign ended abruptly against Maria Sakkari. Osaka, now ranked in the top 100 after starting 2024 unranked, sees their success as a benchmark. Her journey, from maternity leave to a grueling comeback, mirrors Bencic’s, while Ostapenko’s fearless aggression offers a contrast that fuels her competitive fire.
As Osaka navigates the clay courts of Rome, aiming for a deep run ahead of Roland Garros, her admiration for Ostapenko and Bencic reveals a player who thrives on inspiration from others. Their differences—Ostapenko’s volatility, Bencic’s reliability, Osaka’s wild-card spark—make the WTA Tour richer. For Osaka, watching Ostapenko’s “fun” chaos and Bencic’s steady climb isn’t just enjoyment; it’s motivation to rediscover her own greatness.
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