When the 2023 season starts, Naomi Osaka will be nearly two years removed from a first-place finish at a tournament, with her most recent title coming at the 2021 Australian Open.
It’s been a roller-coaster ride on the court, to say the least, for the former world No. 1 since that Melbourne triumph, with earlier-than-expected losses, injuries and ranking struggles.
With a new year, though, comes the chance to put the past behind her. However, 2022 offered the same opportunity. Will the upcoming campaign be the one that sees Osaka back in the mix for the sport’s biggest prizes?
Osaka gave a glimpse of what’s still possible in the first few months of the year. After failing to defend her Australian Open title, her ranking fell well outside of the top 50. She got a major lift back up the standings with a run to the final at the WTA 1000 event in Miami, where she fell to Iga Swiatek.