Naomi Osaka Admits Clay Courts No Longer Concern for Her After Reaching Italian Open 4th Round

Naomi Osaka is the winner of seven singles titles, all of which she clinched on hardcourts. Forget a title, she has yet to play a final on either grass or clay.

Osaka used to struggle a lot while competing on clay, but the surface is no longer a concern for her. In the ongoing Italian Open, Osaka, a quarterfinalist in the tournament (2019), breezed past 19th seed Diana Shnaider. At the press conference later, she analyzed her performance on the surface.

Honestly, I’m not sure if I would say that I’m playing incredibly well on clay, but I wanted to move well. On this surface, that helps a lot. Returning one more ball can change everything.

Before arriving in the Italian capital, the 28-year-old reached the Madrid Open fourth round for the first time since 2019, but failed to defeat defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. Osaka is now working with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, the former coach of Iga Swiatek. The four-time Grand Slam champion, however, admitted that she is not trying to radically change her playing style while working with the Polish coach.

We’re not trying to change too much. Obviously, smart decisions need to be made, but I don’t think my tennis is that different between hard courts and clay. Here, the points are longer, and you have to be aggressive but smart.

Naomi Osaka added

Osaka has yet to feature in a final this year. Last year, she played two finals: gave the walkover to Clara Tauson at the ASB Classic and later lost the Canadian Open to Victoria Mboko.

Naomi Osaka on her match against Iga Swiatek

Naomi Osaka is expecting nothing but a tough challenge in the next round as she will be up against Iga Swiatek, the three-time Italian Open winner. The Japanese ace has met the Pole thrice and trails 1-2 in the head-to-head matchups.

But the last time they faced each other was in the second round of the 2024 Roland Garros. Swiatek burst into tears after winning a tough three-set thriller before she reached the final and beat Jasmine Paolini to complete a three-peat, also winning her fourth trophy in the clay-court Major.

Oh my… Life is a bit cruel. First Sabalenka, now Iga. That’s where I truly bring out my best. Even though the last encounters didn’t go in my favor, those matches are the most fun for me. Thinking about that challenge makes me smile.

Swiatek won the Italian Open in her second appearance back in 2021 by defeating Karolina Pliskova. She defended her title by beating Ons Jabeur. Her third title came in 2024 against Aryna Sabalenka.

Sometimes I remember those matches, and other times I forget them. But I like to think about that match because it was like a test for me. I believe it was my first significant match after pregnancy, and being able to compete toe-to-toe with her on her best surface meant a lot.

Naomi Osaka added

Swiatek is also chasing her first title of the season. She, in fact, has not yet progressed beyond the quarterfinals this year. The last time she clinched a title was in the 2025 Korea Open. It was her third title of the season after her wins at Wimbledon and the Cincinnati Open.

Prior to scheduling the match against fellow former World No.1, Swiatek dismantled Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-1, 6-0. But she survived a scare in her opening-round match as Caty McNally took the second set off her.

Before starting her campaign on clay, Swiatek suffered a shock opening-round exit at the Miami Open. Later, she split with coach Wim Fissette and hired Rafael Nadal‘s former coach, Francisco Roig.

Also read: Joao Fonseca Urges Fans to Show Restraint After Heated Italian Open Loss to Hamad Medjedovic