After the storm, Naomi Osaka wrapped herself in a rainbow.

In early autumn in New York, the annual pinnacle tennis event is in full swing at Flushing Meadows Park, where we always witness memorable tennis stories. This time, Naomi Osaka etched her name on this blue court. Over the past two years since her return, fate has repeatedly challenged her, as she often drew top-seeded players early in tournaments. Moreover, Osaka has openly discussed her difficult childbirth experience, body image anxieties, and mental struggles in interviews and on social media, which led many to doubt whether she could ever regain her peak form.

However, this summer, Naomi Osaka finally proved herself to the world. In August, she fought her way to the final at the WTA1000 Montreal tournament. Although she lost the title to local rising star Leylah Fernandez, she secured a seed for Flushing Meadows—her first time as a seeded player in a major since returning from maternity leave. In New York, Osaka seized the opportunity, winning her first two rounds in straight sets, then defeating the strong 15th seed Kasatkina in the third round. In a highly anticipated fourth-round match, she overcame local favorite Coco Gauff, a title contender, and then beat Czech star Muchova in the quarterfinals—her first semifinal at this level since the 2021 Australian Open.

At the post-match press conference after beating Muchova, Naomi Osaka spoke about how fellow mother players on tour inspired and motivated her return to the top. She gave birth to her daughter Shai in July 2023. “I’m deeply encouraged by all the mom players, but I often felt anxious, like I wasn’t doing enough and was falling behind. When all the other moms came back and quickly performed well, I even wondered if something was wrong with me. I know Bencic reached the Wimbledon semifinals, and it felt like being constantly surpassed in some strange competition. That pressure weighed on me, but now standing here, I feel relieved.”

At the same time, Osaka talked about the turning point this season when she bounced back from a slump. She lost in the second round of the WTA500 Washington tournament at the end of July to Raducanu. Although disappointing, she sensed a shift in momentum. Since Polish coach Viktor Lofovski joined her team in August, everything has fallen into place.

Wearing a dazzling, diamond-studded outfit and wielding her YONEX EZONE 98 racquet, Naomi Osaka reignited the court in New York. This racquet perfectly supports her aggressive, modern tennis style, allowing her to unleash maximum power while maintaining top-level control. The EZONE 98’s forgiveness and precision give her strong confidence to challenge lines and angles at full swing.

“Now I appreciate the journey more,” Osaka said after losing to local star Anisimova in the semifinals. “When I was younger, I was always thinking about the next goal, and the next after that. I gave my all here, and I’m not upset about stopping at the semifinals. Instead, it motivates me to get back to training and work harder to improve.”

Perhaps it is the hardships and difficulties of her comeback that make her cherish the moments of victory even more. Even after painful defeats, she finds positive strength to look forward. When recalling sitting in the stands at Flushing Meadows just two years after giving birth, her eyes still well up. Back then, she watched Coco Gauff advance to the final on Arthur Ashe Stadium, longing deeply for the day she could return to the court. Now, back at this place where she has been crowned champion twice, having weathered storms, she has finally draped herself in a rainbow.

(Text and editing by Wang Fei, photos by Visual China)