Naomi Osaka just did something she hadn’t done in four years. Win a title! At the WTA 125 event in Saint-Malo, France, the former World No.1 claimed the trophy with a commanding 6-1, 7-5 win over Kaja Juvan. It was her first-ever final on clay, and she handled it like she’d been doing this forever. The No. 2 seed beat three French players- Leolia Jeanjean, Elsa Jacquemot, and Diane Parry on the way to the final. She dropped just one set all week. That’s some serious business on a surface that’s never been her favorite. And even the Olympics is recognizing her feat.

This win is the 4-time Grand Slam champion’s first since the 2021 Australian Open. Since then, Osaka’s story has been filled with big turns: mental health struggles, a break from tennis, injury setbacks, and even maternity leave. Now, she’s back doing what she does best, winning.

Even the Olympics took notice. Their official Instagram page gave her a shoutout. They penned a heartfelt caption to her victory that read, “Naomi Osaka is a champion once again! 🏆🎾 The four-time Grand Slam winner, and Tokyo 2020 final torchbearer, has lifted her first trophy since taking a maternity break. Congrats, Naomi! 👏” Osaka saw the post and reshared it on her Instagram story, replying with, “Awww ❤️🙏🏾”

It was a sweet full-circle moment for someone who held the Olympic flame. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Japanese tennis star lit the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony. She later called it her “greatest athletic achievement and honor.“

And she nearly made it count on the court, too. Ranked No.2 in the world at the time, Osaka reached the third round before falling to eventual silver medalist Markéta Vondroušová. Fast forward to the 2024 Paris Olympics, and her return didn’t go as planned as she lost in the first round to Angelique Kerber.

But now she finally has a win in France. Her title in Saint-Malo pushes her back into the Top 50. She now sits at No. 48 in the WTA rankings. That’s her highest spot in over a year and a big boost just ahead of Roland Garros.

Next stop? Rome. But the road isn’t easy.

Naomi Osaka faces a tough path ahead at the Italian Open

The draw for the 2025 Italian Open is out, and Naomi Osaka’s got her work cut out for her. She kicks off her campaign against Italy’s own Sara Errani, a veteran with tons of clay-court experience and the home crowd behind her. If the former World No.1 gets through that, a second-round battle with Paula Badosa could be waiting. But Badosa has to get past Elena Svitolina first, which won’t be easy. Svitolina, a former World No.3, is known for digging deep, especially on the dirt.

This section of the draw is stacked. Also in the mix are Madison Keys, the reigning Australian Open champ, and former World No.7 Danielle Collins. Only one of these names, Osaka, Badosa, Svitolina, Keys, or Collins, will make it to the quarterfinals. And who’s waiting there? Possibly Iga Swiatek, the defending champion. And their potential clash could be a thriller. Remember when Osaka and Swiatek played one of the best matches of 2024 at the French Open? It went nearly three hours. Osaka had a match point against the four-time Roland Garros champ, but couldn’t quite seal the deal.

A rematch between those two on Italian clay? Yes, please. For now, Naomi Osaka has some momentum, a shiny new trophy, and a ranking boost. And she’s heading into Rome with a shot to test herself against the best again. Can she turn this spark into a fire and climb even higher in Rome?