Naomi Osaka’s Commanding Victory over Jelena Ostapenko – Reaching the Last 16 in Montreal
Updated August 1–2, 2025
At the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal, Naomi Osaka delivered a masterclass performance to dispatch Jelena Ostapenko, advancing with authority into the tournament’s fourth round (last 16). Facing the 22nd‑seeded Ostapenko in the third round at the IGA Stadium, Osaka secured a straight-sets win, 6‑2, 6‑4, continuing her strong WTA 1000 season form. This article explores her journey through to this point, her on‑court strategy, the statistics behind her victory, and what lies ahead in her resurgence.
Context: Osaka’s 2025 Season and WTA 1000 Form
Naomi Osaka, four‑time Grand Slam champion, returned to action after maternity leave in early 2024. Since then, rebuilding her ranking and form has taken time. In 2025 she reached a final at the WTA 125 event in Auckland before retiring due to injury. She later claimed her first title since 2021 at the WTA 125 Saint‑Malo in France—her first clay title and first after becoming a mother :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.
Her Canadian Open run marked her third appearance in a WTA 1000 fourth round of the year—a clear indicator she's regaining her competitive edge on hard courts :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}. The Montreal event is one of the premier hard‑court stops leading into the US Open, and Osaka’s form signaled she’s back in serious contention.
Previous Rounds: Emergence of Momentum
Osaka’s second round featured a dramatic match against 13th‑seeded Liudmila Samsonova. Osaka rallied from match points down to win in a third‑set tiebreak (4‑6, 7‑6, 6‑3), demonstrating her mental grit and reminding fans of her championship resilience :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}. She then followed that up with a comfortable win over Canadian qualifier Ariana Arseneault, setting up the marquee clash with Ostapenko :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
The Third‑Round Match: Osaka Vs. Ostapenko
Match Overview
Played on August 1, 2025, on Montreal’s centre court, Osaka and Ostapenko renewed a rivalry in which Osaka had never lost. She had defeated Ostapenko in straight sets previously at the 2016 French Open and the 2024 US Open :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
Statistics and Flow
The final scoreline—6‑2, 6‑4—tells a story of control. According to official stats:
- Match duration: approximately 72 minutes (1h12) :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
- Aces: Osaka 5 vs Ostapenko 2
Double faults: Osaka only 1, Ostapenko 4 :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6} - First serve percentage: Osaka 65%, Ostapenko 61%
First‑serve points won: Osaka 70%, Ostapenko 50%
Return games: Osaka converted 66% of break points vs Ostapenko’s 60% :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7} - Total points won: Osaka 58 of 101 (57%), Ostapenko 43 (42%) :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Sky Sports highlighted that Osaka won a decisive 71% of first‑serve points to Ostapenko’s 50%, underlining the key role her serve played in dictating the match pace :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
First Set: Seizing Immediate Control
Osaka raced out to a 3‑0 lead early in the first set. Ostapenko managed to hold at 3‑1, but then a double fault gifted Osaka another break as she closed out the set 6‑2 in just 30 minutes. Osaka seized the first‑serve match control; Ostapenko’s serve sputtered under pressure :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
Second Set: Slight Resistance, Then Closure
In the second set, Osaka again earned an early break to lead 3‑1 after Ostapenko netted a forehand. Penko broke back with a stunning crosscourt winner, narrowing the deficit. Osaka responded with another break to move 5‑2 ahead. Ostapenko showed fight: she saved one match point and broke back to 4‑5. But Osaka closed with composure, breaking at love in the final game after a backhand error from the Latvian, sealing a 6‑4 finish :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
WTA noted this constituted Osaka’s third straight win, helping her re‑enter the WTA top 40 for the first time since 2022 :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
Quotes and Reactions
“Granted, she broke me a couple times, but she's a really good returner… I just tried to keep my pace and stay as solid as I could.” — Naomi Osaka on her mindset during the match :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
The WTA highlighted that Osaka has often referred to Ostapenko as her “favorite player”—admiring her flair—even as she dominated their head‑to‑head 3–0 in straight sets :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.
Tactical Takeaways
- Serve as weapon: Osaka’s improved first‑serve percentage and dominance in first‑serve points framed many games, allowing her to control rallies.
- Reduced errors: Osaka had just 13 unforced errors compared to Ostapenko’s 37, indicating disciplined shot selection and court positioning :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.
- Return pressure: Osaka converted 66% of break points—her aggressive return stance neutralized Ostapenko’s second serve and forced errors.
- Mental steadiness: She remained calm under pressure, handling a late breakback and closing professionally when key.
What’s Next: Round of 16 Outlook
With this win, Osaka will face the winner of the Jessica Pegula vs Anastasija Sevastova match. Pegula, the world No. 3 and back‑to‑back defending Canadian Open champion, was upset by Sevastova in a major upset :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}. If Pegula advances, Osaka would be challenging a top‑seeded player; if Sevastova wins, that’s another Latvian storyline to follow.
A quarter‑final run would mark Osaka’s first WTA 1000 or Grand Slam quarter since her return to tour in early 2024 :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}.
Broader Significance
Osaka’s commanding win over Ostapenko showcased a blend of power, efficiency, and calm—hallmarks of her best Grand Slam-winning days. The win boosts her confidence heading into the U.S. Open swing and highlights the positive early impact of her new coaching setup: she began the tournament with a trial-era partnership with Tomasz Wiktorowski after parting ways with Patrick Mouratoglou just before Montreal began :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}.
Her resurgence is also evident in her stats. This tournament run helped her rejoin the top 40 for the first time since 2022—a milestone reflecting her steady upward trajectory :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}.
Conclusion
Naomi Osaka’s victory over Jelena Ostapenko in Montreal’s third round was a statement: disciplined, powerful, strategic tennis is back. In just over an hour, Osaka dispatched a dangerous opponent, demonstrating her hard‑court acumen and mental resilience. With momentum firmly on her side, the Japanese star now eyes a return to the quarter‑finals stage of elite-level events—her path set squarely toward another deep run in the U.S. Open build-up.
Stay tuned as Osaka prepares for her fourth‑round opponent, looking to convert this resurgence into tangible triumphs moving forward.
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