Andy Roddick: There’s no reason why Naomi Osaka can’t play well on grass

Naomi Osaka’s comeback hit another rough patch earlier this week when the former world No. 1 lost in the first round of the Berlin Tennis Open to Liudmila Samsonova. The Tennis Channel Live panel, led by fellow former world No. 1s Tracy Austin and Andy Roddick, broke down the defeat and looked ahead to Wimbledon, where Osaka has never been past the third round.

“I’ve got to be honest: I didn’t think it would take this long for someone who has won four majors and has been so committed, working with Patrick Mouratoglou,” Austin said on Tuesday. “She’s worked so hard; when she’s lost, she goes back to the Academy there. I’m super proud of Naomi for trying to play better on the clay. Her four majors were all on hard and she never felt comfortable on the grass. She can’t wait for the summer to happen.”

Osaka first returned from maternity leave at the start of 2024, having given birth to daughter Shai the year before. In the 18 months since returning to action, she has peaked just outside the Top 40 in the WTA rankings and has won one title earlier this season, a WTA 125K in Saint-Malo. Austin looks back at Osaka’s 2024 Roland Garros defeat to Iga Swiatek, where the four-time Grand Slam champion held match point, as an inflection point in the comeback.

There’s no reason why [Osaka] can’t play well on grass. I think she needs to focus on that first-strike tennis, maybe move her serve around a little it more and take some chances on the second serve so her movement doesn’t get a chance to get exposed as often. Andy Roddick

“That’s where it could have turned,” said Austin. “I just think she’s starting to have some doubt because she’s losing 6-4 in the third, 7-5 in the third. Your aura is lost a little and others think I can beat her. That’s a tough situation for her to be in right now.”

Osaka’s last three defeats—to Samsonova in Berlin, Paula Badosa at Roland Garros, and Peyton Stearns in Rome—have all been tough three sets with the 27-year-old coming up just short.

Roddick took a more optimistic view of Osaka on what has traditionally been her weakest surface, encouraging her to be more aggressive on the slicker grass courts.

“There’s no reason why she can’t play well on grass,” argued Roddick. “I think she needs to focus on that first-strike tennis, maybe move her serve around a little it more and take some chances on the second serve so her movement doesn’t get a chance to get exposed as often.”

Osaka last reached the third round of Wimbledon in 2018; her most recent appearance at the All England Club ended in the second round against American Emma Navarro, who went on to upset Coco Gauff en route to the quarterfinals.

“I think I’m still trying to find myself and or figure out who I am,” Osaka wrote on Threads following her loss in Berlin. “Can someone older than me please let me know if that’s a constant inner struggle or is it something we magically figure out one day?”