Naomi Osaka names her favorite player on the WTA tour currently even if they are “ polar opposites ”
Naomi Osaka takes advantage of a strong week in Rome as it continues to improve clay.
The quadruple major champion Osaka lost her first match on Clay this year at the Madrid Open, against Lucia Bronzetti, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6.
In bouncing, Osaka won a WTA 125 event in Saint-Malo, France, beating Kaja Juvan in Slovenia in the final.
Bearing this form to the Italian Open, she won her first match against Sara Errani, before Osaka gave up Viktorija Golubic to reserve her place in the third round.
After winning its seventh consecutive game on clay terrains, Osaka appointed another clay specialist like his favorite tennis player at her post-match press conference.
Naomi Osaka says that Jelena Ostapenko is her favorite player even if they are “ polar opposites’ ”
Addressing the media after its 2-6, 7-6, 6-1 victory against Golubic, Osaka shared its reflections on its favorite WTA player.
“People know I say [Jelena] Ostapenko is probably my favorite player, “she said.
“I really like it. I think it is the exact opposite of me. She’s just fun for me.
The Japanese star then appointed another player, classified outside the Top 30, who, according to her, “kills” in 2025.
“”[Belinda] Bencic, I really respect her a lot and I also think that she is a polar opposite in terms of me, you can count on her to win the matches, she is supposed to do it, “said Osaka.
“I am a little more a joker. I really love them both. Obviously, Bencic has returned, and she kills him, and that inspires me to do better.
“Ostapenko, she has just won Stuttgart. They definitely push me a lot. ”
Bencic and Ostapenko won the WTA 500 titles in 2025, while they continue to impress the WTA tour.
- Belinda Bencic won 2025 Abu Dhabi Open – Beat Ashlyn Krueger in F
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Ostapenko’s victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the Stuttgart final was one of the most impressive of the year, while exceeding the world number one in two sets.
Latvian experienced a great reputation to cause upheavals in 2025, having already won four victories among the first five in the early stadiums of the season.
| Match | Opponent | Opponent’s row | The rank of Jelena Ostapenko |
| 2025 Stuttgart – F | Aryna Sabalenka | 1st | 37th |
| 2025 Stuttgart – QF | IGA SwiTEK | 2nd | 37th |
| 2025 Qatar Open – SF | IGA SwiTEK | 2nd | 24th |
| 2025 Qatar Open – 3R | Jasmine Paolini | 4th | 24th |
She will undoubtedly be looking for a fifth while the Italian open tournament heads for the second week.
How do Naomi Osaka, Jelena Ostapenko and Belinda Bencic occur in Rome?
Osaka has made its way in the third round of the Italian Open with victories on Errani and Golubic, setting up an intriguing confrontation with the Czech star Marie Bouzkova.
The couple played twice before, Osaka leaving on both occasions.
- 2020 Australian Open 1R-Naomi Osaka defeated Marie Bouzkova, 6-2, 6-4
- 2021 US Open 1R-Naomi Osaka beat Marie Bouzkova, 6-4, 6-1
Bencic’s Italian open campaign was not so successful, however, winning only two games in his first match against Maria Sakkari before retiring due to an injury at the end of the first set.
Ostapenko, on the other hand, was victorious in her second round match, fighting a set to beat Rebecca Sramkova from Slovakia.
She will now return on Saturday May 10 to play Laura Siegemund for a place in the fourth Italian round.
The three players could finish the tournament classified in the top 50 of the world, an impressive achievement, since Osaka and Bencic returned from maternity leave recently.
| Live classification | Name | Points | Italian open status |
| 21 | Deer residue | 2,075 | 3R * |
| 37th | Belinda Bencic | 1409 | Lost in 1r |
| 51 | Naomi Osaka | 1,093 | 3R * |
It remains to be seen how Ostapenko and Osaka can go to the Italian capital, but it will certainly be worth connecting while the third round begins on Saturday May 10.
