Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka is set to compete in a WTA 125 tournament for the first time in ten years, having accepted a wild card entry into next week`s L`Open 35 de Saint-Malo.
Organizers of the Saint-Malo event announced Osaka`s late addition via social media, expressing anticipation for the former World No. 1 to make an impact in her tournament debut.
Following an extensive period of clay court training in France with her coach Patrick Mouratoglou – during which she mentioned feeling “stronger” and prepared for tough matches – Osaka recently experienced a first-round defeat at the WTA 1000 Mutua Madrid Open against Italy`s Lucia Bronzetti. This was her first competitive match in a month after exiting the Miami Open in the fourth round against Paolini.
According to WTA rules, players ranked 11th or lower are eligible to participate in a WTA 125 event during the second week of a Grand Slam or a mandatory WTA 1000 tournament, provided they are no longer active in the larger event.
Osaka`s only prior appearance at a WTA 125 level tournament was in November 2015 in Hua Hin, Thailand, where she finished as the runner-up at the age of 18, then ranked No. 203. Her decision to return to this circuit aims at securing more consistent match play, particularly on clay courts, a surface she is still working to master.
This season, Osaka holds a win-loss record of 9-5, but her performance since January is 3-3. This period includes recovering from an abdominal injury that led to her withdrawal from the ASB Classic final and retirement during her fourth-round match at the Australian Open.
The main draw competition in Saint-Malo is scheduled to commence on Monday. Ranked No. 55 globally, Osaka is expected to be seeded second. Her opening match will be against 19-year-old Croatian Petra Marcinko. Potential opponents in later rounds include No. 6 seed Olivia Gadecki in the quarterfinals and No. 4 seed Caroline Dolehide in the semifinals. Other notable players in the draw feature expected top seed McCartney Kessler, Viktorija Golubic, rising French teenager Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, Alycia Parks, Varvara Gracheva, Katie Volynets, and former Wimbledon semifinalist Tatjana Maria.
Since the tournament was upgraded to WTA 125 status in 2021, past champions have included Beatriz Haddad Maia and Sloane Stephens. Jasmine Paolini was the finalist in the first edition held at this level.
Rupert Caldwell