Naomi Osaka salutes new coach Patrick Mouratoglou after reaching ASB Classic QF

Naomi Osaka has gotten her new season off to a winning start at the ASB Classic. The Japanese player has already notched up two wins to progress through to the quarterfinals.

Having come through a 6-4, 6-4 win over Lina Glushko, she needed to fight harder in the second round. The Japanese player faced some resistance from her opponent, Austrian Julia Grabher.

After closing out a tight opening set, Osaka was able to take a straight-sets win 7-5, 6-3. Speaking about her performance right after the win, Osaka said she had received some great advice from her coach Patrick Mouratoglou coming into the contest.

She said she had been handed a few bullet points by the Frenchman, which she tried to abide by. She added that her coach had advised her to swing freely even if she were to end up losing, an advice that seemed to have worked in her favor.

"I got some great advice from a great coach over there," Naomi Osaka said. "I just tried to focus on my bullet points and go out swinging if I had to go out. But fortunately I'm here to play another round."

Osaka also heaped praise on her opponent, Julia Grabher, saying:

"She was a really tough opponent for me to play against and I felt I just had to concentrate on myself a lot and try not to be as nervous as I felt," Naomi Osaka said.

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Naomi Osaka will be a favorite for a semifinal spot at ASB Classic

Naomi Osaka in action during her second-round encounter at the 2025 ASB Classic. (Source: Getty)

Naomi Osaka will come into the ASB Classic quarterfinal as a favorite to win. She is set to take on the winner of the contest between lucky loser Jodie Burrage and Hailey Baptiste.

Burrage made her way into the main draw after the withdrawal of second seed Elise Mertens. Another top name in Osaka’s half, third seed Amanda Anisimova, had also lost her opener, throwing open the draw.

Osaka, the seventh seed, is not the highest-ranked player left in the section. If she were to come through her quarterfinal, she is projected to face eighth seed Katie Volynets. The American, however, will have to first come through her quarterfinal where she is set to face either Greet Minnen or Alycia Parks.