Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams are widely considered as the top faces of the WTA tour. However, it’s worth noticing that they have not been playing much in the last few months. They are both focused on winning slams and therefore they are a bit stingy in their schedules.
Only 3 tournaments in total
In the last 7 months, Serena and Naomi have completed only 3 tournaments in aggregate after the US Open.
Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka stopped her 2020 season after winning the American slam citing a hamstring injury. In 2021 she didn’t play in the Middle East before and after the Australian summer. In Melbourne, Osaka withdrew from a warm-up tournament before winning the Australian Open.
After Melbourne, Naomi refused to play in the Middle East in Doha and Dubai. She competed only in Miami where she lost in the fourth round. Later, Osaka pulled out from Stuttgart stating that she will be back to competitions only in Madrid (26th of April). This scheduling means that Naomi will have a full run (no retirements) only in 2 tournaments in 8 months from September 2020 to practically the beginning of May 2021.
Serena Williams
The American Legend has been struggling to find the correct form to win her 24th elusive slam. Therefore, she decided to have very light scheduling. After playing the US Open in 2020, Serena tried to take part in the French Open even if she was struggling with an Achilles injury. Eventually, Serena had to pull out from Paris before facing is Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round.
Just like Naomi Osaka, Serena was back to competitions only in Melbourne. Williams withdrew from a warm-up event in Melbourne when she was supposed to face Ashleigh Barty in the semi-final. Therefore in 2021, she completed only the Australian Open where she lost to Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals.
Serena decided not to play in the Middle East keeping Doha and Dubai. She was supposed to be back at the Miami Open. Unfortunately, she was stopped by oral surgery. Serena Williams also decided not to play in Charleston and not to compete at the Madrid Open. So, the American champion will be back to competition only on the occasion of the Italian Open in Rome that will take place from the 10th of May.
The result is that Serena we completed only 1 tournament in 8 months after the US Open.
Naomi Osaka in 2021
Now ranked no.2, Osaka played her last match on the 31st of March when she was overcome by world no.19 Maria Sakkari 6-0 6-4 in the quarter in Miami (draw).
Currently, during this season the Japanese has achieved a composed 12-1 record. Naomi conquered 1 title at the Australian Open.
Serena Williams in 2021
Currently the world no.8, Serena played her last match on the 18th of February when she was defeated by world no.2 Naomi Osaka 6-3 6-4 in the semifinal of the Australian Open (draw).
Presently, during this year Serena has managed to achieve an overall 8-1 match record. Serena Williams’s best performance of the current season was reaching the semifinal in Melbourne and at the Australian Open.
Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams faced off 4 times. The head to head is 3-1 for Osaka. The last time they competed against each other, Naomi Osaka won 6-3 6-4 in the semifinal in Melbourne (Australian Open) on the 18th of February 2021.
In the following video you can watch the highlights.
Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams |
| Embed from Getty Images |
