Naomi Osaka has four major titles under her belt but the second round at Flushing Meadows, Wimbledon and Roland Garros was as good as it got this year for the Japanese 26-year-old, who exited the Australian Open in the first round.
In a rematch of their tumultuous 2018 US Open decider, Osaka underlined her status as the new queen of women's tennis and soaked up the cheers from the Rod Laver Arena crowd as fans returned to the Grand Slam after a five-day lockdown.
Former champion Naomi Osaka was sent packing from Indian Wells after losing in straight sets to Colombia's Camila Osorio.
Japan's Naomi Osaka claimed her first career title with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 victory over Russian Daria Kasatkina in a battle of 20-year-olds at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka's name appeared on the singles entry list for Wimbledon released by the organisers on Friday but veterans Roger Federer and the Williams sisters were not included.
'I wasn't expecting it (the call) to happen. It was a surprise. Apparently, my sister told my mom to do it'
IMAGES from the Australian Open matches played at Melbourne Park in Melbourne on Thursday.
'Having that chance to represent people that might not think that they could be represented, that's a really important goal of mine'
'Take care of yourself and see you back winning soon!'
Osaka will play Jennifer Brady for the title.
American third seed Coco Gauff completed a confidence-boosting 6-3 6-1 win over Poland's Magdalena Frech in the U.S. Open third round on Saturday, finding her rhythm after a nervous start to the tournament.
Naomi Osaka pulled out of the semi-finals of the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament on Wednesday in New York City, in protest at racial injustice. Her decision follows protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday.
The board reminded Osaka that 'a core element of the Grand Slam regulations is the responsibility of the players to engage with the media'
Naomi Osaka now gets to test her mental strength against a revitalised Victoria Azarenka, who stunned Serena Williams in Thursday's other blockbuster semi-final.
Naomi Osaka has sacked her second coach in seven months, splitting with Jermaine Jenkins
Former World No. 2 Ons Jabeur said she was putting herself first for a change and would take control of her schedule after becoming depressed during a punishing run on tour.
Osaka also reached the final of the Western & Southern Open, which was held at Flushing Meadows this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but had to withdraw against Azarenka due to an injury.
American eighth seed Madison Keys claimed a dramatic 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(3) comeback win over a tearful Naomi Osaka on Friday to reach the fourth round of the US Open.
Images from Day 9 of the 2020 US Open in New York, on Tuesday.
Osaka, 20, shot to international fame on Saturday when she defeated 36-year-old American Serena Williams at Flushing Meadows to become the first Japanese player to claim a Grand Slam singles crown.
The 21-year-old, born in Japan to a Haitian father and Japanese mother but raised in the United States, saud it will be special for her to represent host Japan at the Tokyo Games.
The French Open will be held from September 27-October 11 after being moved from its usual late May-June slot due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Up next for the twice Grand Slam champion is Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who ended Angelique Kerber's resurgence with a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Melbourne final feels 'bit unreal' for Japan's Osaka
Britain's Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton claimed the inaugural Athlete Advocate of the Year Award for his involvement in the fight against racism.
The 22-year-old Osaka has been at the forefront of protests from tennis players against racial injustice in the United States.
The former world number one was especially proud of the way she has managed to mould her mindset to deal with tough losses.
Venus Williams, Coco Gauff pair up to play doubles at French Open.
Japan's Naomi Osaka said on Sunday that while she has spent her entire life waiting to compete at the Olympics, the risks of holding the Tokyo Games amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic should continue to be carefully discussed.
"For me, right now I have this feeling of sadness," said Osaka.
Coco Gauff, who shared an emotional on-court interview with Osaka after falling to her at the 2019 US Open, echoed Stephens's comments.
Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka have long moved on from their tempestuous 2018 US Open title match but that will do nothing to dampen the suspense ahead of their blockbuster Australian Open semi-final on Thursday.
Japan's Naomi Osaka cruised to victory in her first match since lifting the U.S. Open title, beating Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-1 in the last-16 at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Osaka was fined $15,000 for skipping her news conference after her first round win and was warned of possible expulsion from Roland Garros
Angelique Kerber produced a stunning display of defensive tennis to see off the big-hitting Naomi Osaka 6-4 5-7 6-4 in a classic Red Group encounter between the last two Grand Slam champions at the WTA Finals on Wednesday. The victory evens up Kerber's record at 1-1 in round robin play as Osaka slumped to her second straight defeat at the season ending event, leaving the U.S. Open champion on the brink of elimination from the eight-woman tournament.
Osaka has been an outspoken supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement both in Japan and the United States
Two-times Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova says Naomi Osaka's shyness is a problem for her as she struggles to deal with the increased scrutiny in the wake of her success at the Grand Slams and her rise to the top of the world rankings.
Osaka battled on gamely before retiring while trailing Kaia Kanepi 7-6(4), 3-0.
Osaka threw her racket, slammed a ball into the court and gave her racket a kick for good measure before steadying the ship
As the 2025 French Open looms, all eyes may be on reigning champions and top seeds - but lurking just beneath the surface are several players quietly building momentum, ready to crash the party in Paris. From seasoned champions finding renewed form to rising stars with something to prove, here are four dark horses who could shake up the women's singles draw at Roland Garros.
