Naomi Osaka makes her feelings known after reaching first final as mom at ASB Classic 2025

Naomi Osaka opened up about reaching the first final of her career as a mother at the 2025 ASB Classic. This will also be the first final she will play in 1008 days.

After welcoming her daughter Shai in July 2023, Osaka returned to action in 2024. Though she showed glimpses of her top level on some occasions, the Japanese star struggled to deliver her best tennis consistently and also failed to reach even a single semifinal last season.

However, it seems that Osaka has seen a shift in her fortunes at the beginning of the 2025 season itself. The 27-year-old decimated Alycia Parks 6-4, 6-2 to reach the first final of her career as a mother. Speaking about the significance of this huge result early on in the season, Osaka said that she was happy to achieve yet another "career-first" milestone in this stage of her career.

“It was definitely really important. I’m happy to get through to the final. I’ve actually never gotten to the final of a tournament the week before Melbourne. This is a career first for me. I think in my head I’m really happy there are always things to improve and get better, no matter how old you are.”

The last final Osaka played ended in a 4-6, 0-6 defeat. She lost to Iga Swiatek at the 2022 Miami Open.

---

Naomi Osaka will play Clara Tauson in the final of the 2025 ASB Classic

In Picture: Naomi Osaka - Source: Getty

Seventh seed Naomi Osaka is set to face fifth seed Clara Tauson in the final of the 2025 ASB Classic in what will be the first meeting between the two women.

While the Japanese defeated Lina Glushko, Julia Grabher, Hailey Baptiste, and Alycia Parks, the Dane ousted Lucrezia Stefanini, Sofia Kenin, top seed Madison Keys, and Robin Montgomery en route to the summit clash. Interestingly, both women have only dropped one set so far.

Osaka has yet to win a title since her victory at the 2021 Australian Open. Notably, during a recent interview with the Associated Press, the former World No. 1 admitted that she may hang up her racket if she doesn't produce desired results in the future.

"I don’t think I’m the type of player that would hang around," she said. "I have a lot of respect for all the players on tour, but the point of my life that I’m at right now, if I’m not above a certain ranking, I don’t see myself playing for a while."

Osaka believes that spending valuable time with her daughter Shai is better than continuing struggling on the court.