Naomi Osaka’s season has been a mix of good and bad so far. Although she reached the finals of the ASB Classic, Osaka was forced to take a mid-match retirement against Clara Tauson due to an abdominal injury. She even had to withdraw from her third-round match at the Australian Open due to discomfort. Regardless, talking about his performance, she said, “I think I’m playing really well, even from last year, the end of last year. I got injured there, too. But I’ve beaten some really good players. So I hope that I can continue that trend.” She’s all set to face Columbia’s Camila Osorio in the R128 of the 2025 BNP Paribas Open. Can Osaka beat her and make a winning start at Indian Wells?

Naomi Osaka vs Camila Osorio: Preview

Naomi Osaka was last seen in action at the 2025 Australian Open. Although she won two matches in Melbourne this year, she was forced to bring an abrupt ending to her third-round match against Belinda Bencic after losing 6(3)-7(7) in the first set.

On the other hand, Camila Osorio will be entering this contest following her QF loss to Belgium’s Elise Mertens at the Singapore Tennis Open. She was defeated by the Belgian by a 4-6,2-6 margin.

Osaka vs Osorio: Head-to-Head

Naomi Osaka has faced Camila Osorio only once in her career so far. Currently, the Japanese have a 1-0 lead over the Columbian in the head-to-head record.

• 2022 Australian Open R128: Osaka 6-3,6-3.

Prediction: Osaka will win this match in straight sets

Naomi Osaka‘s 2018 victory at Indian Wells, her first-ever professional title on Tour, made her the youngest champion there in over a decade. So, she surely knows ways to excel on this surface. If I draw a comparison between these two, despite all these injury concerns, Osaka (56) has been far more impressive this year. She currently has a win-loss record of 6-2, whereas it’s just 4-3 for Camila Osorio (53).

Now, talking about their playing styles, Osorio’s strength lies in her speed, incredible court coverage, and her ability to hit winners from the baseline. She’s a fierce competitor, and her fighting spirit often gives her an edge in the rallies. However, her biggest concern has been her serve. She has hit 17 aces so far this season but has committed around 33 double faults! Osorio needs to keep things tidy against the former world number one if she really wants to throw up a major challenge towards the Japanese.

Naomi Osaka, on the other hand, is more of an aggressive baseliner. Her incredible raw power, especially on her forehand and her serve, is truly exceptional. She is known for her strong serves and her incredible grit to win longer rallies. So, both these players have the ability to seal the deal in the rallies, but there is going to be only one winner in this epic battle. Considering Osaka’s vast experience and her recent form, I’m keeping the four-time Grand Slam champion ahead in this first-round match.