Naomi Osaka’s journey at Wimbledon 2025 came to an end in the third round as she fell to Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a three-set match. The defeat highlighted both the promise and challenges facing the former world No. 1 as she continues her comeback from motherhood and mental health struggles.
Soon after the match, Osaka’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, took to social media to address her defeat and congratulated the Russian star.
Coach Mouratoglou Responds to Wimbledon Loss on Instagram
Following the loss, Mouratoglou posted on Instagram with several photos from the match at Wimbledon. He wrote his thoughts about the defeat and Osaka’s progress on grass courts.
“Congratulations to @nastia_pav for a great match,” Mouratoglou addressed the champion. He then shifted to Osaka, writing: “We keep the head high. It was a close match and you started to enjoy playing on grass @naomiosaka. You are improving every day. Success requires patience and we are patient.”
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The match showcased both Osaka’s potential and the work still needed. She started strongly, taking the first set 6-3 with powerful serves and groundstrokes. She looked comfortable early on against the experienced Russian player.
However, Pavlyuchenkova fought back to win the second set 6-4, then took the decisive third set by the same score. The veteran player’s experience on grass courts proved crucial in the later stages of the match.
This defeat marked another third-round exit for Osaka at Wimbledon, a tournament where she has never progressed beyond this stage despite her four Grand Slam titles on hard courts. The loss continues her struggles at the All-England Club, where grass court tennis presents unique challenges different from the hard courts where she has found her greatest success.
Osaka’s 2025 Season and Return from Maternity Leave
Osaka’s 2025 season has been marked by both promise and setbacks as she continues her comeback journey. She began the year by reaching the final of the Auckland Classic in January, her first final since 2022. However, she was forced to retire from that match due to an abdominal injury after winning the first set against Clara Tauson.
At the Australian Open, Osaka showed encouraging signs by reaching the third round before retiring against Belinda Bencic with the same abdominal injury. The injury concerns carried over from her Auckland appearance, highlighting the physical challenges she faces in her return to competitive tennis.
The French Open brought more disappointment as she lost in the first round to Paula Badosa despite winning the opening set. That loss was particularly emotional for Osaka, who broke down in tears during her post-match press conference.
The clay courts of Roland Garros have historically been challenging for the former world No. 1, and her early exit underscored the work still needed across all surfaces.
Her mental health journey continues to be a significant part of her story. Osaka has been open about her struggles with depression and anxiety since 2021, when she withdrew from the French Open to focus on her mental wellbeing.
The pressure of expectations, combined with her status as a former world No. 1, has created additional challenges as she works to return to her top form.
Since returning from maternity leave in 2024 following the birth of her daughter Shai in July 2023, Osaka has shown flashes of her former brilliance but has struggled with consistency. Balancing motherhood with professional tennis presents unique challenges that few players at the highest level have navigated.
Her current ranking of 53 reflects the work still needed to return to the top level. The ranking represents a significant climb from where she started her comeback, but remains far from the No. 1 position she once held.
With Mouratoglou’s guidance and her determination to improve, Osaka continues working toward reclaiming her place among tennis’s elite players.
