Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka opened her Pan Pacific Open campaign in Tokyo with a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, marking her return to the tournament after a four-year absence, Inext Live reported on Oct. 28, 2026. The straight-sets win advanced the 18th-seeded Japanese star into the next round while highlighting a transformed mindset following the birth of her daughter, Shai.
Naomi Osaka Returns To Tokyo With A Straight-Sets Victory
Playing her first match in Tokyo since 2022, Osaka faced a demanding test against the 35th-ranked Paolini. The first set went to Osaka behind powerful baseline strokes before Paolini mounted a resilient challenge in the second. The set forced a tiebreak, where Osaka utilized her serve—landing seven aces overall—to close out the frame 7-6(4) and seal the match in straight sets.
Motherhood Brings New Equilibrium to Osaka's Career
Addressing reporters after the match, the 29-year-old Osaka reflected on how her life has shifted since welcoming her daughter, Shai, which necessitated a 15-month break from the sport before her return in 2023. She admitted that during her previous appearance in Tokyo four years prior, she constantly battled internal stress away from the court. Motherhood, she noted, has brought a new equilibrium to her career.
“I was nervous back then, but I was stressed all the time,” Osaka said, as reported by Inext Live. “Now I am much calmer, and I think that has to do with my daughter. She keeps me balanced and helped me understand that tennis is my job.”
Honoring Japanese Heritage Through Court Fashion
Stepping onto the court for her opening match, Osaka debuted a custom-built blue outfit featuring long kimono-inspired sleeves and an intricate crane bird design. The garment paid tribute to her Japanese heritage and her mother’s roots in Hokkaido. Known for making fashion statements at major tennis events—including her NBA-inspired look at the US Open and jellyfish-themed attire at the Australian Open—Osaka kept details about potential upcoming outfits for the rest of the week under wraps.
Osaka Overcomes Past Injury to Defeat Paolini
Osaka’s last appearance at the Pan Pacific Open ended abruptly in 2022 when she was forced to withdraw before her second-round match due to abdominal pain. Her victory over Paolini represented not only a successful sporting comeback in her home country but also a significant mental milestone. Paolini, who had won the pair’s only previous meeting, pushed the second set to the limit, but Osaka relied on her first-serve execution during the critical tiebreak points to avoid a deciding third set.
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