Auckland 2025: Naomi Osaka vs Julia Grabher preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | ASB Classic

Match Details

Fixture: (7) Naomi Osaka vs (PR) Julia Grabher

Date: January 1, 2025

Tournament: ASB Classic 2025

Round: Second Round (Round of 16)

Venue: ASB Tennis Centre, Auckland, New Zealand

Category: WTA 250

Surface: Hardcourt (outdoor)

Prize Money: $275,094

Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports

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Naomi Osaka vs Julia Grabher preview

Naomi Osaka at the China Open 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Four-time Major champion Naomi Osaka will square off against Julia Grabher in the second round of the ASB Classic 2025.

Osaka drew qualifier Lina Glushko in the first round here. The former World No. 1 secured an early break in the first set, and solidified the advantage with a hold of serve. She maintained this lead until the end of the set to take it.

Osaka drew first blood in the second set as well, though this time Glushko broke back immediately to remain on level terms. The two went toe-to-toe over the next few games, until the Japanese ran away with the match after going on a three-game run to secure a 6-4, 6-4 win.

Grabher's first-round opponent in Auckland was Leyre Romero Gormaz. The former was outplayed by the latter and lost the opening set before storming back to take the second set.

Grabher fumbled a 4-2 lead in the third set and failed to serve out the match. She then saved a match point in the ensuing tie-break and held her nerve to register a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7) win.

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Naomi Osaka vs Julia Grabher head-to-head

This will be the first career meeting between the two, so the head-to-head currently stands at 0-0.

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Naomi Osaka vs Julia Grabher odds

Player	Moneyline	Handicap Bets	Total Games
Naomi Osaka	-2000	+1.5 (-500)	Over 17.5 (-135)
Julia Grabher	+800	-1.5 (+300)	Under 17.5 (-105)

(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)

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Naomi Osaka vs Julia Grabher prediction

Julia Grabher at Wimbledon 2023. (Photo: Getty)

Prior to undergoing wrist surgery, Grabher peaked at No. 54 in the rankings. She's now on the comeback trail, and her win over Romero Gormaz was her first main draw win at the WTA level since August 2023. She did it the hard way as well by saving a match point.

Osaka wasn't at her dominating best but did just about enough to get past Glushko. This was her first match since retiring from her fourth-round match against Coco Gauff at the China Open in October. She showed no signs of the back injury that forced her to throw in the towel back then.

Grabher's ranking has fallen to No. 470, and she has only 23 main draw career wins to her name at the WTA level. Osaka, meanwhile, tallied 21 wins in 2024 following her return from maternity leave. Against the player in the early stages of her comeback from a major injury, the former World No. 1 will be expected to get the job done without breaking a sweat.

Pick: Naomi Osaka to win in straight sets.