Just a few weeks ago, Naomi Osaka won her first WTA title since her emphatic triumph at the 2021 AO. She defeated Slovenia’s Kaja Juva by 6-1,7-5 in the final of the WTA 125K Saint-Malo. It was also her first WTA title since she became a mother in July 2023. Following this feat just before the French Open, she shared a post on her IG handle with the caption, “Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst. That’s one of my favorite things about life, though, there’s always room to grow and evolve… I know it’s turbulent, but it’s also really fun and I’m grateful.” Her breakthrough on this surface is particularly rewarding given her past struggles and limited exposure to clay. However, following that incredible win, Osaka went down to America’s Peyton Stearns in the R16 of the Italian Open. This season has been full of ups and downs for the Japanese. Can she make a long run at the Roland Garros this year?

Well, American legend, Andy Roddick, had previously lauded her decision to compete at the WTA 125 event before taking her flight to Rome. He said, “Naomi Osaka going down and playing that lower-level event — it gives you confidence playing five matches in a week versus playing two here, waiting six days, playing one more, waiting a couple, you know, playing two more. She’s getting that repetitive thing. You can’t create that atmosphere in practice now.” Roddick believes this repetitive thing is quite important to rebuild her confidence. But what does he think about Osaka’s chances at the 2025 Roland Garros?

Well, Naomi Osaka has failed to pass the third round in the French Open in her career. On top of that, she has already been handed a tricky draw, where she will be facing the world number 10, Paula Badosa. These two were supposed to play against each other in the R64 of the 2025 Italian Open, but the Spaniard withdrew at the last moment due to injury. Who’ll have the last laugh in their first encounter? During the recent episode of the ‘Served’ Podcast, Andy Roddick and John Wertheim analyzed the path for Osaka at the French Open. Reacting to this blockbuster clash, Roddick said, “Badosa-Osaka, Oh that’s a tough one, it weirdly like you would have never thought you’d be at the point where it’s like Osaka’s been playing better on clay than Badosa. I’m going upset special..Osaka over Badosa!“

He further added, “Badosa has not been playing well in the last couple of weeks. I know you’re (Wertheim) going to like Kasatkina to the third round, who’s Australia’s own, and I love that. Kasatkina versus who in the third round, JW?” In reply, John Wetheim said, “I think Badosa’s back (injury) is the big variable here. If she’s 80% or better. She ought to be okay, but Osaka is…remember what Osaka did last year against Iga (Swiatek)? Actually, I’m going to change that, I’m going to Osaka, I think Osaka to the fourth round.“

Interesting Fact: Paula Badosa’s best record at the French Open was reaching the QF in 2021.

But having said that, Roddick opined that Naomi Osaka could well go down to Mirra Andreeva in the fourth round! It’ll be interesting to see how far the former world number one goes in this tournament, but last year she sent shockwaves around the tennis world with her performance against the defending champion Iga Swiatek in the second round. Although she lost that match in three sets, her fight was truly worth celebrating, a remarkable comeback to vintage form.

Even that time, Roddick had also reacted to her incredible performance by saying, “I think Naomi is making this progress on surfaces that she doesn’t really like, that aren’t natural for her. On clay, we saw her give hell to Iga Swiatek at the French Open. She was the only one who had been in the same stratosphere as Swiatek for two hours of that tournament.” He also praised her for her aggressive approach throughout that phase, last year. Can she beat Paula Badosa in the first round and make a longer run on the Parisian clay? Let’s see, but who will be her probable opponents in the next rounds?

Naomi Osaka’s probable opponents at the 2025 French Open

Naomi Osaka (49) has a win-loss record of 17-6 this season, and her best record other than the title triumph in Saint Malo has been reaching the final at the ASB Classic earlier this year. Just a few months ago, he reshuffled her coaching team and brought in Serena Williams’ ex-coach Patrick Mouratoglou into the team. Ever since this inclusion, the Frenchman has been keeping himself busy to help her find her way back to her vintage form.

Speaking about the efforts they have been putting in altogether in a previous interview, Mouratoglou said, “We started in September, and she has been injured a lot since then. She had five months of injuries out of the eight, so there were constant stop-and-go’s but she’s playing better and better. She has now won eight consecutive matches on clay.” He mentioned that there was a lot of work to be done to get her back in the saddle. Recently, he even shared a glimpse of their practice session at Roland Garros with the caption, “Energy and mindset are everything. @naomiosaka @rolandgarros.“

So, the Japanese star has been leaving no stone unturned in her mission to put up a better performance at the Roland Garros, but who are her probable opponents in this major event?

Well, if Naomi Osaka gets through her first match, then she could face America’s McCartney Kessler in the second round, followed by Daria Kasatkina in the third round. After that, as Roddick mentioned, her fate could well be decided in a lip-smacking clash against the teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva in the fourth round. Osaka’s probable opponent in the QFs is Jessica Pegula. If she manages to get through all these challenges, then she might face Coco Gauff in the SF and either Iga Swiatek or Aryna Sabalenka in the final. How far do you think she can go at the 2025 French Open?