Naomi Osaka eyes firts clay court title at Challenger final

While the big lights this week have been on the Madrid Open, there is a star name looking to maintain a good rhythm in a smaller tournament: none other than the 4-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who reached the final of the Challenger L’Open 35 in Saint-Malo.

Osaka was eliminated in the first round of the Madrid Open against Italian Lucia Bronzetti 4-6, 6-2, 4-6, and decided to enter the Saint-Malo Challenger (125k category) in search of maintaining competitive rhythm on clay courts, a surface that has historically been more than complicated for the former world No. 1.

The Japanese player had a rapid ascent to the forefront of world tennis, so early in her career she did not spend much time in lower-level tournaments. She played ITF tournaments between 2013 and 2015 (losing four finals), and only reached one Challenger final in 2015 (just after turning 18), in which she was also defeated.

However, by 2016, Osaka was establishing herself among the best. In her first appearances in major draws, she was already achieving several victories, reaching the third round (Round of 32) at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Only two years later, she won her first professional titles at Indian Wells and later at the US Open, both at just 20 years old.

Osaka had a tough semifinal match against local player Leolia Jeanjean but managed an almost perfect third set to secure the victory 6-2, 4-6, 6-0. The Japanese player secured her return to the top 50 after some months, and in case of winning the title, she will be positioned at No. 48. The final will be decided this Sunday at 1:30 PM local time.

Without a doubt, the week has been a confidence boost for Osaka, who is set to debut at the Rome Open between Wednesday or Thursday of next week (May 7-8).

Round of 32 - Osaka d. Petra Marcinko (No. 22): 6-2, 6-1

Round of 16 - Osaka d. Diane Parry (No. 116): 2-6, 6-3, 6-4

Quarterfinal - Osaka d. Elsa Jacquemot (No. 143): 6-3, 6-4

Semifinal - Osaka d. Leolia Jeanjean (No. 107): 6-2, 4-6, 6-0

Final - Osaka vs. Kaja Juvan (No. 515):