Andy Roddick recently analyzed the challenges Naomi Osaka faces as she continues to struggle throughout her 2025 tennis season. The Japanese star’s difficulties have deepened after an early exit in her grass-court campaign at the Berlin Open, raising concerns about her ability to return to top form.
Osaka began her grass season with a match against Liudmila Samsonova at the Berlin Open. Despite winning the first set 6-3, she could not maintain momentum and dropped the next two sets 6-7 and 4-6, allowing the Russian to execute a notable comeback. This loss added to Osaka’s ongoing battle to reclaim her position among tennis elites, a situation Andy Roddick discussed recently on the Tennis Channel.
Signs of Progress and Areas for Improvement Highlighted by Roddick
Roddick pointed out that earlier in the year, during the Sunshine Double tournaments of Indian Wells and Miami, Osaka showed hopeful signs of regaining confidence and moving towards a Top 20 ranking. However, her progress has been slower than anticipated, frustrating both Osborne and her followers.
“When she came back last year, I thought she was making strides right around Indian Wells, Miami, and I thought she would be cruising towards the top 20. I think it’s probably taken a little bit longer than all of us expected. I think she’s probably frustrated by it. She’s lost a couple of tight matches, a bunch of three-setters. But let’s remember, right? She’s only made it past the round of 16 of hard-court slams, so, the clay and grass, I don’t know that was the measure for her success. Even when she was prime Naomi Osaka,” Roddick stated. (1:18 onwards)
Roddick further emphasized the technical improvements Osaka must focus on to revive her career.
“Hopefully she kind of finds that pacing. There’s just no reason that she can’t play well. I think she really has to Focus on that first strike tennis, maybe move her serve around a little bit more, take some chances on the second set. So starting on the second serve so her movement doesn’t get a chance to get exposed as often,” Roddick said.
Naomi Osaka’s Emotional Reflection on Her Current Journey
Before beginning her grass-court stint, Osaka shared candid thoughts about her struggles with identity and performance. After a tough first-round defeat at the French Open to Paula Badosa, she openly expressed her disappointment and emotional pain during the post-match press conference, admitting she expected to be playing better by this stage in her career.
“As time goes on, I feel like I should be doing better. But also — I kind of talked about this before, maybe a couple years ago, or maybe recently, I’m not sure ,” Osaka said.
Ahead of the Berlin Open, Osaka wrote an introspective message on Threads, revealing her ongoing search for self-understanding amid her professional setbacks.
“I think I’m still trying to find myself and or figure out who I am. Can someone older than me please let me know if that’s a constant inner struggle or is it something we magically figure out one day?”
Looking Ahead: Osaka’s Focus on Wimbledon and Future Prospects
Following her disappointing loss at the Berlin Open, Osaka will turn her efforts toward improving before the year’s third Grand Slam at Wimbledon. Earlier in 2025, she revealed that if her results did not improve soon, she would consider stepping away from tennis to dedicate time to her daughter, Shai. This highlights the gravity of her current career crossroads as she attempts to overcome the pressure and deliver better performances.
Andy Roddick’s commentary underscores the critical technical and mental adjustments Osaka needs to make if she hopes to revive her tennis career. The coming months, including her Wimbledon appearance, may be decisive in determining whether Osaka can regain her former status among the sport’s elite.