Under the sunlit skies of Brittany, the L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo became the stage for a gripping chapter in Naomi Osaka’s 2025 clay-court journey. The former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion clawed her way into the quarterfinals with a hard-fought 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over France’s Diane Parry on May 1, overturning a one-set deficit and a precarious 4-1 hole in the deciding set. The two-hour battle, played on the red clay of the Marville complex, showcased Osaka’s resilience and reignited excitement for her Roland Garros preparations, just weeks away.
Osaka’s decision to compete at the WTA 125 event, her first at this level in a decade, was a calculated move to rebuild confidence on clay after a disappointing first-round exit at the Madrid Open. The 27-year-old, now ranked No. 55, arrived in Saint-Malo seeking match rhythm following a 15-month maternity hiatus and a 2024 season hampered by an abdominal injury. Her opening match against Petra Marcinko was a statement of intent—a commanding 6-2, 6-1 rout in just 79 minutes, with eight aces and an 81% first-serve win rate. But Parry, a 22-year-old Frenchwoman ranked No. 116, posed a sterner test, leveraging her clay-court nous and home-crowd support to push Osaka to the brink.
The match began with Parry seizing control, breaking Osaka twice to claim the first set 6-2 in a swift 27 minutes. “I was aggressive and played with margin,” Osaka later reflected, acknowledging her early struggles to find her footing. Parry’s precise groundstrokes and deft movement exploited Osaka’s rustiness, leaving the Japanese star visibly frustrated. Yet, under the guidance of coach Patrick Mouratoglou, Osaka recalibrated in the second set, tightening her serve and unleashing her signature power to level the match 6-3. “I feel stronger and ready to grind it out if I have to,” she had told reporters before the tournament, and that resolve shone through as she battled back.
The decisive third set was a rollercoaster. Parry surged to a 4-1 lead, capitalizing on a double fault and her own relentless baseline play. But Osaka, drawing on the mental fortitude that fueled her Grand Slam triumphs, staged a remarkable turnaround, winning five consecutive games to seal the 6-4 victory. Parry’s challenge was compounded by a thigh injury that required medical strapping, visibly hampering her mobility in the final games. “My objective is to play every match at my best,” Osaka said post-match, her relief palpable as she advanced to face another Frenchwoman, Elsa Jacquemot, in the quarterfinals.
This victory marks a significant step in Osaka’s quest to rediscover her elite form. Her 2025 season, which began with a final at the ASB Classic and a fourth-round run at the Australian Open before injury setbacks, has been a tale of perseverance. Saint-Malo, with its quaint seaside charm, has offered her a sanctuary to hone her game. “I went for a walk by the ocean—it’s really peaceful,” she shared, describing the calming influence of the Breton coast. The tournament, already buzzing from past appearances by Elina Svitolina and Sloane Stephens, has been electrified by Osaka’s presence, with local fans like Clara from Dinard marveling, “She’s a true champion—we hope she stays all week.”
As Osaka prepares for Jacquemot, a rising star ranked No. 143 who upset sixth seed Olivia Gadecki, the tennis world is abuzz with anticipation. Her 1-0 head-to-head lead over Parry, built on a three-set win at Wimbledon 2024, underscores her ability to thrive in clutch moments. With the Italian Open and Roland Garros on the horizon, Osaka’s Saint-Malo campaign is a beacon of hope for her fans. “I’m confident in myself as a player,” she affirmed, her eyes set on translating practice-court prowess into match-winning magic. In Brittany’s salty air, Naomi Osaka is rediscovering her fire, one gritty win at a time.
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