The four-time major champion, 27, now heads into a highly anticipated US Open quarter-final clash against Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova. Her resurgence has drawn comparisons to her previous title runs in New York, with analysts noting her renewed confidence and power on the court.
"Some of her tennis has been reminiscent of when she won her two titles here," said Annabel Croft, a former British No. 1 who has been analyzing Osaka's matches. "Her game is all about amazingly clean ball-striking, taking control of the baseline, opening up the court, and hitting a winner. When she is confident, she makes the game look so easy and effortless."
The Road Back to the Top
Osaka's journey back to the top has been a gradual one. She returned to the tour after a 14-month hiatus following the birth of her daughter, Shai, in July 2023. Her struggles with positivity at Wimbledon seemed to be a roadblock, but a significant change behind the scenes has made all the difference.
Shortly after her disappointing performance in London, Osaka parted ways with her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, and brought on Tomasz Wiktorowski, best known for guiding Iga Swiatek to four Grand Slam titles.
The new partnership has had an immediate and profound impact. Osaka describes Wiktorowski as "a teddy bear" who has created a "safe space" for her to express herself and her tennis. The change in dynamic was evident in her first tournament with Wiktorowski, where she reached the final in Montreal, a run that included impressive victories over top-25 opponents.
A Change in Mindset and Strategy
Beyond the coaching change, Osaka has embraced a new mindset focused on being a "bigger fighter" and, most importantly, having fun. "What I want to take away from this tournament is just smiling and having fun," she said. This refreshed attitude was on full display in her decisive fourth-round victory over Coco Gauff, where she played with a sense of joy and gratitude.
On the court, Osaka has adopted a more restrained and strategic approach, carefully choosing when to unleash her signature baseline power. This nuanced game plan has paid off, with her statistics showing a well-rounded and effective performance. She has won 79% of her service games and 56% of her return games, with nearly 20% of her shots resulting in winners—placing her among the tournament leaders.
With her powerful serve and effortless ball-striking, Osaka is once again a dangerous contender in the draw. As she prepares for her first Grand Slam quarter-final since the 2021 Australian Open, she seems to have truly found her rhythm, and her smile, again.