Naomi Osaka hits a return to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a Wimbledon women's singles third-round match on July 4, 2025, in London. (©Andrew Couldridge/REUTERS)
Naomi Osaka hasn't captured a Grand Slam singles title since February 2021, when she won her second Australian Open title.
This long drought is a vivid reminder that returning to the top in the world of sports, of becoming the best athlete or team in any sport, is incredibly difficult.
Great comebacks in sports resonate with people, including those accomplished by athletes or teams that win a major championship once again after a significant amount of time. Think of Muhammad Ali winning boxing's heavyweight title for the second or third time.
Since her impressive showing at the Australian Open more than four years ago, Osaka hasn't advanced past the third round of a Grand Slam tournament.
Osaka exited Wimbledon with a 6-3, 4-6, 4-6 defeat to Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the third round on Friday, July 4.
The 27-year-old Osaka had 15 aces in the loss. Her serve also contributed to her departure from the tournament, with her Russian opponent taking a 3-0 lead in the second set after Osaka had a double fault.
In pursuit of a comeback win, Osaka capitalized on strong forehand returns to tie it at 3-3. But she faltered down the stretch in the second set and couldn't overcome Pavlyuchenkova, who at age 34 is ranked No 50 in the world.
Osaka is ranked 53rd.
Naomi Osaka Reacts to Wimbledon Exit
The loss was painful for Osaka.
"I'm just going to be a negative human being today," Osaka told reporters at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, adding, "I'm so sorry."
She then said, "I have nothing positive to say about myself, which is something I'm working on."
But she also credited Pavlyuchenkova for her strong performance and for dictating key moments in the match.
"It's not like I can really even be mad at myself," Osaka said. "I was thinking about the break points that I had. She hit some really good serves. Then she hit a backhand. I can't really do that much about it."
Osaka compared the feeling of losing in the first round at the French Open in May with the disappointment of defeat at Wimbledon.
"In Paris ... when I sat here, I was very emotional," Osaka told reporters, referencing a post-match press conference. "Now I don't feel anything, so I guess I'd prefer to feel nothing than everything."
Now 27 years old and a player who's never reached the fourth round at the French Open or Wimbledon, the odds are increasingly unlikely that Osaka will emerge as a champion at either tournament.
Osaka went on maternity leave in 2023 and gave birth to her daughter Shai. The layoff impacted her career, but there's also no denying the fact that Osaka has been a wildly inconsistent player for many years.
In Pursuit of Titles on Clay and Grass
Can Naomi Osaka still master the skill set needed to claim titles on clay or grass?
The former world No 1 says she believes she can be a more competitive player.
She underscored that point when discussing her outlook for Wimbledon, where she won both of her first two matches in straight sets.
"[I] actually thought I could play well, like, in general [and] "make a deep run here," Osaka was quoted as saying by The Associated Press.
Which is why Friday's result was a major disappointment for her.
"I wanted to do better than I did before," she said, referring to past Wimbledon tournaments. "Also, I felt like I was trying so hard."
Numerous WTA Tour tournaments remain on this year's calendar, including the US Open, starting in late August, which Osaka has won twice (2018, 2020).
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Rugby
Japan Rallies Past Wales in Kitakyushu
Wales held a 19-7 lead over Japan at halftime in a test match on Saturday afternoon, July 5 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture.
The lead wasn't insurmountable, though, as the Brave Blossoms stormed back for a 24-19 triumph at Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu.
For Japan, a pair of second-half tries by Ichigo Nakakusu and Halatoa Vailea in the 59th and 70th minutes keyed the comeback and extended Wales' long run of misery (18 consecutive losses).
Wales captain Dewi Lake couldn't hide his disappointment after the match on this hot summer day (34 C).
"A couple of mistakes and ill-discipline cost us dearly in the second half," Lake said, according to Britain's Daily Mail. "We allowed Japan into the game and they're tough to stop when they're playing at speed.
"Although we felt like we were in control, if you don't score points, you're not going to win games. Conditions are going to play a factor but we're not blaming that. We weren't clinical enough."
It was the Brave Blossoms' first win over a Six Nations team since the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Japan accomplished the feat with a youthful lineup, as head coach Eddie Jones deployed a starting unit with eight uncapped players.
Takuro Matsunaga had Japan's lone try of the first half.
As Wales seeks to end its long losing streak, Japan will aim to keep improving in the squads' rematch on Saturday, July 12, in Kobe.
Jones' Perspective on Japan's Victory
Before the focus shifts to making preparations to face Wales again, Jones analyzed Japan's performance in the comeback win.
"It was a game that changed in the first and second halves," Jones said, according to Sports Nippon. "In the first half, Wales had the better possession and territory, but Japan fought hard, and in the second half, Japan took advantage of their opportunities by outpacing Wales in both possession and territory."
From a mental standpoint, the win was a helpful building block for the Brave Blossoms, the coach said.
"I think this game was a great confidence booster for the young players with less than 50 caps and for those who played for the first time," Jones said after the match, Sports Nippon reported. "We hope to gain confidence from this win and build it further through hard work."
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Baseball
Ohtahi Slugs 30 Homers for 5th Straight Season
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani reached 30 home runs for the fifth consecutive season on Tuesday, July 1.
Ohtani belted a fourth-inning homer to center field, a 408-foot solo shot, off Chicago White Sox pitcher Shane Smith, connecting on a 3-2 slider.
The fan favorite's blast over the fence occurred four days before his 31st birthday. And the Dodgers beat the White Sox 6-1. Ohtani went 1-for-4 in the interleague contest.
"I was kept at bay with my first two trips to the plate but managed to get a good swing with the third," Ohtani said, according to Kyodo News.
Before playing his first game for the Dodgers in 2024, when he became MLB's first 50-50 player (with 54 homers and 59 steals), Ohtani had 46 homers for the Los Angeles Angels in 2021. He slugged 34 round-trippers in 2022 and hit 44 more in '23.
Marking his return as an MLB pitcher after having his second surgery on his right elbow in September 2023, Ohtani toed the rubber in three games in June 2025. In those three mound appearances (on June 16, 22 and 28), Ohtani pitched a total of four innings. He allowed three hits and one run, while walking one and striking out three.
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3 NPB Pitchers Have Reached the Century Mark in Strikeouts in 2025
Who are Nippon Professional Baseball's top whiff artists in 2025?
Only three men have recorded 100 or more strikeouts through Friday, July 4.
The trio: Saitama Seibu Lions right-hander Tatsuya Imai (110 punchouts in 95⅔ innings), Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lefty Livan Moinelo (107 Ks in 99⅓ innings) and Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters ace Hiromi Itoh (103 in 104⅔ innings).
Of the three pitching standouts, Itoh has had the most success this season. He's 9-4 with a 2.49 ERA.
Moinelo has a 7-1 win-loss record with a sparkling 1.27 ERA.
Imai is 6-2 with a 1.32 ERA.
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Basketball
Netherlands Dominates 4th Quarter to Beat Japan Men
The Netherlands men's national team outscored Japan 24-11 in the fourth quarter en route to a 78-70 victory on Saturday afternoon, July 5 in Tokyo.
In the teams' Nippon Life Cup weekend opener, Japan led 23-16 after the first quarter and 42-36 at halftime. The hosts, who are ranked 21st in the world, took a 59-54 advantage into the fourth quarter of the international friendly at Ariake Arena.
University of Hawaii forward Akira Jacobs, a Yokohama native, led Akatsuki Japan with 15 points. B.League star Josh Hawkinson (Sunrockers Shibuya) notched a double-double (14 points and 11 rebounds). Hirotaka Yoshii scored 10 points and Yuto Kawashima, an NBA Global Academy student in Australia, snared 13 rebounds.
Japan playmaker Kai Toews dished out seven assists. Kai's younger brother Luka Toews, a guard who'll enter his sophomore year at Boston College in 2025-26, made his senior national team debut, finishing with four points and three assists in nine-plus minutes.
Jediael Cordilia had a team-high 16 points for the Netherlands, which is ranked 54th in the world.
Japan and the Netherlands had another game scheduled for Sunday at the same arena.
Up next: Japan faces Denmark in the SoftBank Cup on July 19-20 at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture.
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Japan Women Rout Denmark in Rematch
The Japan women's national team triumphed 89-55 over Denmark on Friday, July 4 at Ariake Arena. It was the teams' second game in as many nights at the venue.
Point guard Yuki Miyazawa led Japan with 15 points and five assists in the Mitsui Fudosan Cup rematch. Teammates Minami Yabu and Ramu Tokashiki had 14 points and 11 points, respectively, in the exhibition match.
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Soccer
Tomiyasu Parts Ways with Arsenal
Defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, who only appeared in one match during the 2024-25 Premier League season for Arsenal, is leaving the team.
The player and the team "have reached a contractual settlement to end his contract," BBC Sport reported on Friday, July 4.
His Arsenal contract was set to expire in June 2026.
Tomiyasu, 26, underwent surgery on his right knee in February, and he's not expected to be available to play again until December.
In his first season with Arsenal, Tomiyasu started 20 Premier League matches in 2021-22. Since then, he's only appeared in 44 league fixtures due to a variety of injuries.
Tomiyasu has earned 41 caps for the Japan national team.
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Fishing
An Update on Japanese Pros in Bassmaster
Taku Ito is the top-ranked Japanese fisherman in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.
The veteran angler is eighth in the latest rankings (540 points) posted on the Bassmaster website.
In related news, Mark Hicks penned a profile of Ito's 25-year-old compatriot Yu Aoki, which was published on July 2 on the American-based organization's website.
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Quote of the Week
"To play here at Todoroki was my dream since childhood, and I've decided to play in Europe, which has been another dream of mine. I expect to face hurdles and challenges over there, but I'll make use of various experiences I've had here and do my best to represent this club."
―Kawasaki Frontale center-back Kota Takai, speaking to the crowd at Todoroki Stadium after the team's 2-1 victory over the Kashima Antlers in a J.League match on July 5, Kyodo News reported. It was Takai's final match in a Frontale uniform. The 20-year-old is joining the English Premier League's Tottenham Hotspur.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
