Why 2026 could be a special year for Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka has endured many struggles in the last few years, but next season could be among the best of her career.

Fans worldwide were thrilled when Osaka returned to tennis at the start of 2024. One of the WTA Tour's most popular players missed the 2023 season while on maternity leave before coming back.

Although her form in 2024 and much of 2025 was far from perfect, there are reasons to believe that Osaka will thrive more consistently next year and reestablish herself as one of the best women's players in the world.

Osaka's fourth and most recent Grand Slam title run occurred at the 2021 Australian Open. During that season, she reached No. 2 in the rankings and was undoubtedly one of the WTA's most formidable and feared players.

However, the Japanese star's difficulties began long before her break to go on maternity leave. After winning the Australian Open, Osaka did not reach a final for 14 months until finishing as the runner-up to Iga Swiatek at the 2022 Miami Open.

Although much excitement surrounded Osaka's return in 2024, she found no consistent form. The 28-year-old reached the Qatar Open quarterfinal, but things did not get any better than that run.

Osaka started this season better by reaching her first final in over two years at the ASB Classic. More inconsistent results followed that until the end of the grass-court swing, and Osaka got emotional in some press conferences afterward.

She split from Patrick Mouratoglou after losing to Emma Raducanu at the 2025 Citi Open in Washington. Osaka hired Tomasz Wiktorowski, Iga Swiatek's former coach, as his replacement. Her fortunes changed dramatically from that moment.

Some player/coach relationships start slowly before ultimately thriving. The best contemporary example is Iga Swiatek and Wim Fissette, who used to coach Osaka. After a difficult first half of this year, the Pole unexpectedly won the 2025 Wimbledon Championships.

Wiktorowksi had an immediate and extraordinary impact on Osaka's game. In their first tournament together, the four-time Grand Slam champion reached her first WTA 1000 final in over three years,at the 2025 Canadian Open, beating Jelena Ostapenko and Elina Svitolina in that run.

Osaka lost the final against local hero Victoria Mboko despite winning the opening set, and received criticism for not mentioning the teenager in the ceremony. Regardless, it was still a great result for the global star after the previous few years.

That was followed by her best result at a Grand Slam since the 2021 Australian Open. Osaka defeated Coco Gauff on her way to the 2025 US Open semifinals before narrowly losing to Amanda Anisimova in a tight battle.

Coming so close to a first major final in over four years was undoubtedly tough. However, the transformation in Osaka's confidence and level since Wiktorowski took over in a short space of time has been extraordinary.

The calm Polish coach has helped Osaka regain her composure after she appeared lost on several occasions in the last few years. With more time, Wiktorowski's impact on her can increase, meaning she could get even better in 2026.

Osaka's problems after the 2021 Australian Open until Wiktorowksi's arrival were particularly acute at the four majors. She did not get past the third round in any of them until her success in New York this year.

The former world No. 1 was visibly more flustered at the Grand Slams. Osaka particularly struggled with that at the Australian Open and US Open, where she had won all her previous majors and was most expected to perform.

That run at this year's US Open, despite how it ended against Anisimova, must have been a weight off Osaka's shoulders. The runner-up in Montreal had previously questioned whether she would ever be good enough to compete at the top again.

Osaka will enter 2026 with a renewed belief that she will compete for the most significant honors. If she can come within a tiebreak of the US Open final after a short period with Wiktorowski, why can she not do it after a full off-season with him?

Wiktorowski built a deserved reputation as a superb tactician during his time with Swiatek. Osaka's improved level and mentality, combined with his superb understanding of the game, have the potential to be a combination that will win big tournaments in 2026.

The home favorite had to withdraw from the 2025 Japan Championships and 2025 Japan Open because of a leg injury, but it does not seem too severe. She should be ready for the new season.