Naomi Osaka’s electrifying return to the WTA spotlight at the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal has ignited the tennis world, and her close friend and fellow star Nick Kyrgios was quick to celebrate her resilience. On July 30, 2025, the four-time Grand Slam champion staged a jaw-dropping comeback, overcoming Russia’s No. 13 seed Liudmila Samsonova 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 in a second-round thriller at IGA Stadium. The victory, which saw Osaka save three match points and rally from a 2-5 deficit in the tiebreak, prompted an uplifting message from Kyrgios on Instagram: “Great effort champ.” The Australian’s words of support underscore a deep bond between the two, forged through shared experiences, mutual respect, and a partnership that extends beyond the court, including their upcoming mixed doubles appearance at the US Open.
Osaka’s Montreal triumph was a testament to her unyielding spirit. Facing Samsonova, a formidable opponent with whom she has a storied 5-2 head-to-head record, Osaka struggled early, dropping the first set after being overwhelmed by the Russian’s aggressive play. “She definitely came out really hard and for me, I was definitely overwhelmed and I didn’t know if I should also be hitting winners,” Osaka admitted in her on-court interview. “But after a while, I just tried to keep the ball in the court.” Her strategy paid off as she battled back, forcing a tiebreak and seizing control in the third set with crucial breaks to secure her place in the third round against Jelena Ostapenko, a former French Open champion. The win marked Osaka’s first three-set victory in Montreal since 2019 and a significant step in her comeback journey after a challenging 2025 season.
The Japanese star’s path to Montreal was anything but smooth. After giving birth to her daughter, Shai, in July 2023, Osaka returned to the WTA Tour in 2024, reaching the Miami Open fourth round and pushing Iga Swiatek to a thrilling three-setter at the French Open. However, her 2025 campaign saw setbacks, including a first-round loss to Paula Badosa at Roland Garros and a third-round exit to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at Wimbledon, where Kyrgios notably supported her from her player’s box. Her recent split with coach Patrick Mouratoglou, announced on July 27, 2025, and her decision to work with Tomasz Wiktorowski, Swiatek’s former coach, signal a bold new chapter. Osaka’s Montreal run, which began with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Canadian wildcard Ariana Arseneault, reflects her renewed focus, especially on hard courts, where she has won all four of her Grand Slams—two US Opens (2018, 2020) and two Australian Opens (2019, 2021).
Kyrgios and Osaka’s friendship, a blend of professional collaboration and personal support, has been a constant through their respective challenges. Kyrgios, sidelined by knee and wrist injuries since 2023, has played only five singles matches in 2025, with a 1-4 record, his lone win coming against Mackenzie McDonald in Miami. Despite his limited on-court presence, he has been a vocal supporter of Osaka, notably during her 2024 comeback preparations. “The best part of journey is realising that we can all learn something from someone. Will be following and supporting your comeback @naomiosaka !! Happy to help anytime. The whole Kyrgios team is behind you,” he wrote on Instagram in December 2023, sharing a practice session where he offered serving tips. Their bond extends to business ventures, with Kyrgios as the first client of Osaka’s Evolve agency, founded in 2022, and their co-ownership of the Miami Pickleball Club. Fans have had mixed reactions, with some praising their camaraderie—“Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios are literally besties”—while others criticize Osaka’s association with Kyrgios due to his controversial past, including a 2021 assault incident with his ex-girlfriend, for which he avoided conviction.
Osaka’s Montreal performance, fueled by her daughter’s inspiration—“I’m trying to show Shai that anything is possible,” she said post-match—sets the stage for her US Open campaign, where she and Kyrgios will team up for a revamped mixed doubles event during Fan Week. The format, featuring short sets to four games and a 10-point tiebreak, suits their star power, though their low doubles rankings (Osaka at No. 57, Kyrgios at No. 633) require a wildcard. As Osaka faces Ostapenko, a player who has defeated her in all six prior meetings, her Montreal momentum and Kyrgios’s encouragement highlight a career-defining moment. With the tennis world buzzing about her comeback, Osaka’s resilience and Kyrgios’s unwavering support paint a compelling picture of two stars navigating the highs and lows of the sport together.
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