Career Milestones
Stepping Stones: Naomi Osaka's journey to the top
Naomi Osaka's career milestones as the dual Slam winner, currently No.10 in the WTA World Rankings, rose to the top of the sport.
01
/11
Having eschewed junior competition, Osaka turned heads on her WTA debut at Stanford 2014: the 16-year-old World No.406 got a Top 20 scalp off the bat, shocking Samantha Stosur 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-5 in the first round.
Photo by Getty
02
/11
Osaka also made a splash on her Slam debut at the 2016 Australian Open, beating Donna Vekic and Elina Svitolina to reach the third round; two months later, she reached her first WTA quarterfinal in Acapulco and cracked the Top 100 in April 2016.
Photo by Getty
03
/11
At Roland Garros 2016, Osaka proved she was a quick learner: in the fourth red clay tournament of her career, she defeated Jelena Ostapenko and stretched Simona Halep - the next two years' champions - to three sets in the third round.
Photo by Getty
04
/11
Osaka was gaining a reputation for raising her game at Slams - but in the third round of the 2016 US Open tearful disaster struck as a 5-1 third set lead over Madison Keys dissipated.
Photo by Getty
05
/11
Two tournaments later, though, Osaka bounced back to make her maiden final at home in Tokyo, beating Elina Svitolina in the semifinals before falling to Caroline Wozniacki in the final - a result that moved her into the Top 50 for the first time.
Photo by Getty
06
/11
There was redemption at the 2017 US Open: returning to the scene of her 'freak out' the previous year, Osaka stunned defending champion Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-1 in the first round for her maiden Top 10 scalp.
Photo by Getty
07
/11
Osaka transformed from dangerous floater to title threat at Indian Wells 2018, pummelling a succession of former World No.1s and Slam champions to storm to her maiden trophy.
Photo by Getty
08
/11
Osaka followed the Indian Wells run by defeating childhood heroine Serena Williams 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of Miami.
Photo by Getty
09
/11
Five months later, Osaka would reprise that win on the biggest stage, shocking Williams 6-2, 6-4 in the final of the US Open to win her first major - and rocket into the Top 10 for the first time.
Photo by Getty
10
/11
A dramatic three-set win over Petra Kvitova in the 2019 Australian Open final sealed consecutive Slam titles for Osaka - and the World No.1 ranking.
Photo by Getty
11
/11
Osaka ended 2019 in hot form, picking up a first title on home soil in Osaka and following that with the Beijing trophy - ultimately putting together a 14-match winning streak, the longest of her career to date.
Photo by Getty