Osaka Advances to Fourth Round in Rome, Continues Comeback Streak

Naomi Osaka is making a remarkable comeback on the clay courts, highlighted by her recent victories at the WTA 125 tournament in Saint-Malo and the Italian Open in Rome. After winning her first clay-court title last week, Osaka extended her winning streak to six matches at the Rome WTA 1000 event, including a strong win over Sara Errani. Despite historically struggling on clay, Osaka has embraced the surface this season, inspired by Andre Agassi's career rebuilding and focusing on improving her physical strength and tactical play on dirt. Her ranking has risen to No. 48 globally, and she is set to face ninth seed Paula Badosa in Rome, a match that will be their first professional meeting. Osaka credits her progress to experience and a mindset focused on growth and evolution, aiming to carry this momentum into the French Open later this month. Alongside Osaka, former world No. 1 and mother Victoria Azarenka also advanced in Rome, showcasing the resilience of top players returning from maternity leave.