Naomi Osaka is back in the spotlight not for her strong serves or flawless forehands, but for her less-than-pleasant experience at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) tennis training facility. The Japanese star’s pre-season preparations are in full flow, but one item has her throwing up her hands. Osaka finished her stint at UCLA by sharing a “last pic of preseason” wearing Nike attire. She will launch her 2025 campaign in Auckland.
In 2024, Osaka failed to maintain consistency due to ongoing injury difficulties. The four-time Grand Slam champion’s China Open campaign was cut short due to a back issue. However, this gave Osaka more time to relax and recover before the next season. Osaka had been training at the University campus for the past few months. On Monday, December 23, the 27-year-old published a photo on social media of her final training session at UCLA’s practice court.
Her training partner Matias Zukas, who took the picture, influenced her to share it. Osaka’s year did not go as expected. After she finally appeared comfortable at the China Open, a back injury derailed her season, forcing her to finish it early. Osaka requested online people to judge Zukas’ photography talents using two options: “amazing” or “absolutely not.”
Balancing Education and Sports
Osaka wrote on her Instagram stories, “Mati said I had to do a “last pic of preseason.” See you soon Auckland.” Osaka will kick off her new season at the ASB Classic in Auckland. She will return to the ASB Tennis Centre after eight years. In 2017, she advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 event but retired midway through the opening set against Croatian Ana Konjuh.
Naomi Osaka expressed excitement about returning to Auckland for the 2025 ASB Classic. The two-time US Open winner expressed her eagerness to “embrace the nature” of the North Island community. In a recent interview with ASB Classic, Osaka emphasised her desire to participate in Auckland after missing out on the WTA 250 competition “for a long time.”
