Osaka Advances to Saint Malo Open​ Final after Maternity‍ Leave

SAINT MALO, France – Naomi Osaka secured her spot in the ​Saint Malo Open⁤ final,⁢ marking ⁢her ‌first⁣ championship appearance since returning from‍ maternity leave. The ‍second-seeded Osaka defeated an un-named opponent in ‌the semi-finals of the ‌WTA 125⁣ tournament on Friday, May 3, 2025.

Osaka’s ⁤Road to the Final

The match lasted 2 hours⁤ and 3 minutes, ⁢with ⁢Osaka winning‌ with scores of 6-2, 4-6, 6-0. The Saint Malo Open, ​held‍ from April 28 to May ‍4, features a total prize money of $115,000 on clay courts.

Osaka,27,received a ​wild card entry into the tournament,marking her first appearance‌ at a WTA 125 event in⁢ approximately a decade.

Clay Court Season and Previous Tournaments

Prior to ‍the Saint Malo Open, Osaka ‍began her clay ⁢court season at the Madrid Open (WTA1000),​ where she lost in the first ⁢round to ‍Lucia Bronzetti ⁢of Italy, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6.

as returning to competition after giving birth ‍to her daughter in January of the previous year, osaka has ‍participated in ⁤19 tournaments, including the Billie ‌Jean King Cup ‌and ‍the Olympics in​ 2024.​ She holds a record of ⁢22 wins and 18 losses, including⁢ qualifying matches.

Saint Malo Open Results

In the‌ Saint ‌Malo Open, Osaka defeated Petra Marcinko ‍of Croatia, a former⁣ world junior No.⁤ 1, ‍with a score​ of 6-2, 6-1 in the first round.She then overcame Diane Parry of France 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the ⁣second round. In the ‍quarterfinals,⁤ Osaka beat Elsa Jacquemot of France, ‌the 2020 French junior winner, 6-3, 6-4, securing her place in the final four.

Looking Ahead

Osaka will face either Victoria Gorvić of switzerland, the ⁣seventh seed, or Kaya Juvan of Slovenia in the final. This marks Osaka’s first ‍final appearance on clay.