Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka are probably the most popular players on the WTA tour. However, both Serena and Naomi Osaka decided to take a long hiatus away from tennis.
The 23-time slam champion played her last match against Naomi Osaka in the semifinals of the Australian Open. She decided to miss the Middle East swing, planning to be back for the Miami Open. Unfortunately, Serena had oral surgery right before the tournament in Florida. Therefore, she was forced to skip the event. The 39 years old is expected to be back to competitions only on the occasion of the Internazionali d’Italia in Rome. The tournament will be staged only from the 10th of May.
Similarly to Serena, Naomi Osaka decided to skip the swing in the Middle Eastern to be back on the Miami Open occasion. Naomi seemed to be in great form in Florida before suddenly crash in the quarters against Maria Sakkari with a rough 6-0 6-4 scoreline. Naomi was meant to be back in Stuttgart, but eventually, she pulled out saying that she is homesick when traveling around the world too much. Osaka will be back to competitions play the Madrid Open that will be staged from the 26th of April.
Serena Williams in 2021
Now ranked no.8, the American 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).
At the moment, during this season Serena has a composed 8-1 win-loss record. Serena Williams’s most significant result of the year was reaching the semifinal in Melbourne and at the Australian Open.
Naomi Osaka in 2021
Currently the world no.2, Naomi played her last match on the 31st of March when she capitulated to world no.19 Maria Sakkari 6-0 6-4 in the quarter in Miami (draw).
Until now, during this year Naomi owns a composed 12-1 match record. The Japanese clinched 1 title at the Australian Open.
Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka clashed against each other 4 times. Their head to head is 3-1 for Osaka. Previously, the last time they played, Naomi Osaka won 6-3 6-4 in the semifinal in Melbourne (Australian Open) on the 18th of February 2021.
You can see them in action in the following highlights.
