Naomi Osaka’s 2025 season, which started with a promise, soon met an unexpected diversion. After a third-round exit from the Australian Open and a pullout from the Abu Dhabi Open due to injury, Osaka’s form has come under scrutiny again. However, the WTA star isn’t bothered much. She has traded her tennis whites for a fashionable outing, showcasing an attitude that may help her turn the table in the future. Is she rejuvenating herself before making another comeback?
Osaka started her season impressively, finishing her 2025 ASB Classic run as a finalist. Next, she competed at the Australian Open but she had to end her campaign abruptly in the third round following an abdominal strain. Osaka’s sudden exit, after trailing against her opponent Belinda Bencic by a set, left her supporters concerned about her overall form and fitness.
What the supporters feared came true as Osaka went on to withdraw from the Abu Dhabi Open as well. Now, with her name not being there in the Dubai Tennis Championships main draw either, she will miss another tour-level event. While the supporters remain concerned, Naomi Osaka is in a positive frame of mind. Taking a break from the court, the World No. 44 visited the San Francisco Bay area donning a stylish look. She shared the photos with her IG followers with a quirky caption: “Same pic different font.”
Her post had an image from the iconic Tom & Jerry cartoon at the end, where Jerry narcissistically admired his reflection in the mirror. A cute reference to how the WTA star envisions herself? Maybe! Her pictures which reflected her tough attitude, received 30,894 likes with multiple comments on social media. Additionally, Osaka shared a reel, which featured a moment she was posing for the camera. “Tennis players never tie their shoe laces 
,” she wrote in the caption, adding a tinge of fun and quirkiness, that resonated with her vibe.
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(@naomiosaka)Osaka’s recent outing showcased her confident spirit. The Japanese star previously highlighted the importance of looking fashionable, on and off the court. “Fashion is very important to me and it’s something I’m passionate about it.. It’s the way that we all outwardly express who we are. I love the creative side of it and being able to design or wear something that’s unique, or actually has a meaning behind it, ” she said in an interview with Vogue in 2019.
Although Osaka has found her solace in fashion, her followers remain worried about her lingering injury issues, casting doubts over her long-term fitness and ability to play a full season.
Is Naomi Osaka’s body holding back?
Post-motherhood, Osaka’s physical struggles became a recurring theme in her performance. Last year, she encountered a back injury during her clash against Coco Gauff in the China Open, which forced her to miss the rest of the season. When she returned to the court, she had to retire from the ASB Classic finals following an abdominal strain. This injury then resurfaced in the Australian Open third round.
Reflecting on her recent injury issues, Osaka spilled a secret. “Honestly I kind of have a history of it since I was a teenager. At least once a year I’d get an ab strain,” she said. She also jokingly added how this strain usually happens to her during her Stuttgart Open run. However, this year, the case was different.
“At least once a year I’d get an ab strain and it’s usually during Stuttgart, so shoutout to Stuttgart. Unfortunately, it carried on to the beginning of this season, but hopefully I can get it together in time for the US swing,” she further added.
Her confidence remained intact during the 2025 Australian Open. “I think just to know that I’m improving as a person. Just to try as hard as I can every day, no matter what I do, and then I feel like if I do that, the bar of like trying is gonna keep getting taller,” she remarked.
Naomi Osaka‘s injury issues and her walkovers have stirred much controversy about her form. However, the 4-time Grand Slam champion uses them as a leverage. “I love it when someone tells me I can’t do something. Who are you?” she posted on X. Her confidence remains an inspiration for others, showing that positive minds don’t get derailed by setbacks, but back their potential to bounce back even stronger. Do you think Naomi Osaka can do that? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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