Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is set to compete in a WTA 125 tournament for the first time in a decade. She accepted a wild card entry into the upcoming L`Open 35 de Saint-Malo event.
Tournament organizers announced Naomi Osaka`s participation as a late addition through a social media post on Thursday, expressing anticipation for the former World No. 1 to “make some noise” in her debut at the event.
Following an extensive training period on clay courts in France under the guidance of coach Patrick Mouratoglou, Osaka recently returned to competition at the WTA 1000 Mutua Madrid Open. In her first match play in a month, she was defeated in the first round in three sets by Italy`s Lucia Bronzetti.
WTA regulations permit players ranked No. 11 or lower to enter a WTA 125 tournament held during the second week of a Grand Slam or a mandatory WTA 1000 event, provided they are no longer active in the larger competition.
Osaka`s only previous appearance at the WTA 125 level was in November 2015, where she reached the final as an 18-year-old ranked No. 203 in Hua Hin, Thailand. Her decision to return to this tier is driven by a goal to gain more consistent match experience, particularly on clay, a surface she aims to improve her mastery of.
This season, Osaka holds a match record of 9 wins and 5 losses overall, but her performance since January stands at 3 wins and 3 losses. This period included retirements from matches due to an abdominal injury.
The main draw matches in Saint-Malo are scheduled to commence on Monday. Currently ranked No. 55, Osaka is expected to be seeded No. 2, positioned behind World No. 53 Alycia Parks. The tournament field also features No. 1 seed Varvara Gracheva, American players Caroline Dolehide and Katie Volynets, and former Wimbledon semifinalist Tatjana Maria.
Since the tournament was upgraded to WTA 125 status in 2021, its previous champions include notable players like Beatriz Haddad Maia and Sloane Stephens. Jasmine Paolini was the finalist in the inaugural edition at this level.
