Naomi Osaka is set to begin her ASB Classic campaign in Auckland, where she could face two qualifiers in her opening matches. Following the release of the tournament draw on Saturday, the seventh-seeded Osaka learned that she will compete against a qualifier in her first match and may encounter another qualifier if Julia Grabher is eliminated in the first round.
Osaka is expected to navigate her initial matches without significant difficulty. However, a tougher challenge awaits as she is projected to meet second-seeded Elise Mertens in the quarterfinals, a player who defeated her twice on hard courts last season.
Should she advance to the semifinals, Osaka may face third-seeded Amanda Anisimova. If she reaches the final, the 26-year-old could contend for the title against either Emma Raducanu or top seed Madison Keys. This marks Osaka’s return to Auckland for the first time in several years, having made her ASB Classic debut in 2017.
In her inaugural tournament, Osaka won against Annika Beck and received a walkover from Venus Williams in the round of 16, but her campaign ended prematurely when she had to retire in the quarterfinals against Ana Konjuh. Despite the disappointing finish, Osaka cherishes fond memories of her time in New Zealand.
“I am excited to return to Auckland for the ASB Classic 2025. When I was there last time, I was fortunate to go on a helicopter tour and explore the beaches, which I thought were really beautiful. My other memory is that Auckland has the best salmon,” she said in September when announcing her participation in the tournament.
After starting her partnership with coach Patrick Mouratoglou in late 2024, Osaka expressed her determination to win her first title since 2021 as one of her primary goals for the upcoming season.
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