As tune-up tournaments like this week's 2025 Italian Open dominate tennis ahead of the 2025 French Open, one familiar name is back in the headlines, with world No. 48 Naomi Osaka making significant strides on the clay court. Coming off her first tournament win since 2021 at L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo — a WTA 125 event — last weekend, Osaka immediately advanced to the Italian Open's third round this week.
The four-time Grand Slam winner has shown glimpses of brilliance after returning from her 2023 pregnancy, with Osaka now aiming to keep up momentum on her historically weakest surface. "Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst," Osaka posted after her May 4th victory. "That's one of my favorite things about life though, there's always room to grow and evolve."
Osaka isn't the only tennis star cooking in Europe, as heavy-hitters like world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 2 Iga Świątek, and No. 3 Coco Gauff also moved ahead in Rome as they look to hone their Roland-Garros form. Not usually a clay court specialist, Sabalenka has looked particularly formidable, defeating Gauff to take the 2025 Madrid Open title just last week.
On Saturday, May 10, 2025, Osaka is set to clash with Marie Bouzkova in a thrilling showdown at the Italian Open. Bouzkova, ranked No. 53, aims to turn the tide in her favor after a lackluster start to the year. Despite struggling with early exits in several tournaments leading up to the Italian Open, Bouzkova showed promise with convincing victories over Mayar Sherif and Beatriz Haddad Maia in Rome.
Osaka, a former World No. 1, has been battling injury setbacks and poor form this season. However, her recent victory at Saint-Malo marks her first clay court title in four years. She began her Italian Open run with a commanding win over wildcard Sara Errani, then battled past Viktorija Golubic in three sets.
In their head-to-head encounters, Osaka has dominated Bouzkova, leading 2-0 in their matchups. Their rivalry began at the 2020 Australian Open, where Osaka handed the Czech a first-round exit. A year later, the then-defending US Open champion repeated her dominance with a straight-sets win in New York. Now, as she fights her way back into form in 2025, Bouzkova faces a familiar challenge: a resurgent Osaka with renewed confidence.
Interestingly, both meetings came when Osaka was at the height of her powers, before the struggles that later stalled her momentum. As Osaka enters this match with momentum from her recent title, fans can expect an intense battle on the court. The question is whether Bouzkova can flip the script this time.
Osaka's aggressive playing style and powerful serves will be tested against Bouzkova's baseline dominance. Despite Bouzkova's resilience, Osaka remains the favorite to secure a victory in straight sets based on their current form and past performances.
Betting odds from BetMGM reflect this sentiment, with Osaka at 7/4 and Bouzkova at 4/9. Tennis enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the outcome of this highly anticipated clash between two formidable players at the Italian Open.
The 2025 Italian Open's Round of 32 kicks off early Saturday morning, with continuing coverage on The Tennis Channel. With Osaka's recent title and Bouzkova's promising form, this match is set to be a defining moment for both players as they aim to solidify their positions ahead of the French Open.
