Naomi Osaka: ‘It Feels Like a Dream’ as She Secures First Wimbledon Win Since 2018

Naomi Osaka celebrated her return to Wimbledon with a victory over France’s Diane Parry, defeating her 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 on Monday to advance to the second round. This win marks Osaka’s first at Wimbledon since 2018.

The four-time Grand Slam champion faced a challenging match, twice losing her serve in the deciding third set. However, she showcased resilience and determination to secure the win on her first appearance at Wimbledon in five years.

Naomi Osaka resumed her tennis career at the beginning of 2024 after taking more than a year off to focus on her mental health and welcoming her first child in July. 

She emphasized the unique significance of playing on Centre Court, saying, “There’s just something about Centre Court that is so special here at Wimbledon, so it’s an honour to be back playing here, and I don’t take it for granted.”

Reflecting on her return, Osaka expressed her excitement and disbelief, stating, “It feels like a dream to be back at Wimbledon.” In her post-match interview, she added, “I’m just really excited to be here. 

It’s funny, Wimbledon was the first tournament I watched after pregnancy, and my daughter is turning one tomorrow, so I’m really glad to still be here.”

Currently ranked No. 113 globally, Naomi Osaka is participating as a wildcard entrant at Wimbledon. While she has won all four of her Grand Slam titles on hard courts at the US Open and Australian Open, she has yet to progress beyond the third round at the All England Club. 

In her next match, Osaka will face American 19th seed Emma Navarro on Wednesday.

In other Wimbledon news, No. 2 seed Coco Gauff swiftly advanced to the second round, defeating her friend and fellow American Caroline Dolehide 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour. 

Gauff, who has never moved past the fourth round at Wimbledon, experienced a surprising first-round exit last year against Sofia Kenin. This history made her emotional following Monday’s victory.

“Wimbledon is, I wouldn’t say the place where the dream started, but maybe where I believed the dream was possible,” Gauff reflected in her post-match interview. 

Gauff is set to play Romania’s Anca Todoni in the second round.