Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka is set to compete in a WTA 125 event next week at L`Open 35 de Saint-Malo, marking her first appearance at this level in ten years, after receiving a wild card.
Tournament organizers announced Osaka`s late entry via social media on Thursday, quoting the former World No. 1 as being prepared to `make some noise` in her inaugural participation.
Following an extensive clay-court training period in France with coach Patrick Mouratoglou, where she reportedly felt `stronger` and `ready to grind it out,` Osaka recently played her first match in a month. This was at the WTA 1000 Mutua Madrid Open on Tuesday, where she was defeated by Italy`s Lucia Bronzetti in a three-set first-round match, having previously lost to Paolini in the Miami Open fourth round.
According to WTA regulations, players ranked 11th or lower are permitted to enter a WTA 125 event during the second week of a Grand Slam or mandatory WTA 1000 tournament, provided they have already been eliminated from the larger event.
Osaka`s only previous appearance at this level was as a runner-up at a WTA 125 tournament in Hua Hin, Thailand in November 2015, when she was 18 and ranked No. 203. Her return to this circuit is aimed at gaining more consistent match practice on clay, a surface she is still working to master.
This season, Osaka`s match record stands at 9-5 overall, but it is only 3-3 since January. This slower start is due to an abdominal injury that led to her retirement from the ASB Classic final against Clara Tauson and the Australian Open fourth round against Belinda Bencic.
The main draw matches in Saint-Malo are scheduled to begin on Monday. Ranked 55th, Osaka is anticipated to be the second seed, behind Alycia Parks, who is ranked 53rd. Other notable players expected in the field include Varvara Gracheva, American players Caroline Dolehide and Katie Volynets, and former Wimbledon semifinalist Tatjana Maria.
Since its upgrade to WTA 125 status in 2021, the tournament has seen champions like Beatriz Haddad Maia and Sloane Stephens. Jasmine Paolini was the runner-up in the first edition at this level.
