Naomi Osaka Advocates for Best-of-five Grand Slam Matches in Women’s Tennis

Naomi Osaka will meet the winner of the Qinwen Zheng versus Katerina Siniakova match in the second round.

Naomi Osaka Advocates for Best-of-five Grand Slam Matches in Women’s Tennis

Naomi Osaka (Image via X/WTA)

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Naomi Osaka doesn’t mind playing five-setters in the Grand Slam tournaments. Following her 6-4, 7-6(4) win over Talia Gibson, Osaka was asked about her views on the idea of women playing the best-of-five matches in Majors like the men.

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka claimed that though she feels she is one of the strongest players at present on the WTA Tour, she doesn’t want the tennis bodies to introduce the five-setters in women’s tennis, claiming it would “increase the amount of injuries” as it will be “too much on the woman’s body“. Osaka is of a different opinion.

I think I would do pretty well if that’s what you’re asking. I know we would probably never get to that point. But I wouldn’t be against it if it did happen.

The 27-year-old has never progressed beyond the third round at Wimbledon, reaching the stage in 2017 and 2018. Last year, Emma Navarro ended her run in the second round. Osaka is the winner of seven singles titles, but none of them she lifted on grass. She has never played a grass-court tournament final as she has reached 12 singles finals in her career, all on hard courts.

She hasn’t yet won a tour-level title since winning her fourth Grand Slam title at the 2021 Australian Open. This year, however, Osaka reached the final of the ASB Classic back in January but handed a walkover to Clara Tauson due to an injury. She then lifted the WTA 125K title in Saint-Malo.

Nick Kyrgios was in Naomi Osaka’s box during her first-round match

Naomi Osaka had no idea that Nick Kyrgios sat in her box during her first-round match. At the press conference, when Osaka was asked about Kyrgios, her reaction was: “Oh he was there? I didn’t hear nothing. Okay.“

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka (Image via X/ESPN)

I jokingly told someone, ‘Hey, I know Nick’s around. Maybe he wants to come to my match.’ But I was joking. Because I know we’re like two completely different players. Honestly, I would’ve loved to come to his matches because I know he’s pretty fun. I think that’s also a big part of why we’re different.

Kyrgios is not playing at SW19 as he withdrew from the tournament because of an injury. He made his return to tennis after 18 months at the Brisbane International, but he did not register his first win before the Miami Open.

The 2022 Wimbledon finalist lost in his opening-round matches in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Indian Wells. In Miami, the 30-year-old then defeated Mackenzie McDonald before losing to Karen Khachanov. Since that defeat, Kyrgios has not yet played another tournament, also skipping the French Open. Kyrgios, the winner of seven singles titles, last lifted a trophy at the 2022 Washington Open.

Naomi Osaka could meet Qinwen Zheng in the second round

Osaka has received a tough draw at Wimbledon. In the second round, she will face 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist Qinwen Zheng or Katerina Siniakova.

Qinwen Zheng (via X/CGTN)
Qinwen Zheng (via X/CGTN)

If Osaka is successful in reaching the quarterfinals, she could schedule a match against last year’s Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini. In the semifinal, the former World No.1 could meet Aryna Sabalenka or reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys.

Osaka is projected to lock horns with two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff, five-time Major champion Iga Swiatek, last year’s US Open finalist Jessica Pegula, or 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the final. Before arriving in London, Osaka played two grass-court tournaments.

She lost to Liudmila Samsonova in her opening-round match at the Berlin Open. Then at the Bad Homburg Open, after beating Olga Danilovic, she lost to Emma Navarro in her second match.

Also read: Stefanos Tsitsipas Casts Huge Doubt on his Future After Retiring from his Opening Round at Wimbledon