“I can never take it for granted” – Naomi Osaka gets real about her ‘potential’ after claiming 1st grass win of 2025 in Bad Homburg thriller

Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, secured her first grass-court victory of the season at the Bad Homburg Open, defeating Serbian qualifier Olga Danilovic 7-6(6), 7-6(4) in a thrilling two-hour, five-minute match, per WTA Tennis. Speaking post-match on court, Osaka, ranked world No. 56, expressed humility about her grass-court potential, saying, “I think I have potential, but everyone is really good, so I can never take it for granted,” per Reuters. Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, believes she can become a force on grass, a surface where she has historically struggled, with a career 21-18 record, per Pro Football Network.

Osaka’s match showcased her serving prowess, firing 16 aces and winning 87% of first-serve points, saving all four break points faced, per Sportskeeda. The victory snapped a three-match losing streak following first-round exits at the French Open and Berlin Open, marking a confidence boost ahead of Wimbledon, starting June 30, per The Japan Times. Osaka’s candid reflection, shared via X by @TrackerTennis, highlighted her resilience after a challenging season, including a maternity break and injuries, per. She now faces No. 5 seed Emma Navarro, who defeated her 6-4, 6-1 at Wimbledon 2024, in the second round, per Outlook India.