Osaka Seeks Redemption at China Open After Rollercoaster Career

On Saturday, September 27th, 2025, 12th-seeded Naomi Osaka will take on Belarus' Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the second round of the China Open in Beijing. Osaka, currently ranked 14th in the world, is looking to recapture the magic that saw her win this tournament six years ago when she was ranked inside the women's top 4.

Osaka's career has taken a dramatic turn since her 2019 China Open victory. In 2023, she became a mother, and her subsequent return to the tour saw her drop out of the rankings entirely. However, the former World No. 1 has worked tirelessly to climb back up, reaching as high as 14th in the singles rankings thanks to a semifinal run at the US Open earlier this month.

Now, Osaka faces qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich, a former World No. 29 who has had to fight her way into the main draw in Beijing due to her current ranking of 130th. Osaka holds a commanding 4-0 head-to-head record over Sasnovich, having defeated the Belarusian on hardcourts in the past.

With her powerful baseline game and impressive serving, Osaka will be hoping to continue her dominance over Sasnovich and make a deep run at the China Open as she seeks to further cement her comeback in the women's game.