Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 4, 2025 Japan's Naomi Osaka during her third round match against Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
LONDON (Reuters) -No seeding these days, no problem — at least early on. Naomi Osaka, back at Wimbledon without the trappings of a top-ranked player, looked every bit the Grand Slam great for a set on Friday. But the old rhythm ebbed away, and Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova stormed back to win 3-6 6-4 6-4.
It's been more than four years since Osaka last lifted a major — the 2021 Australian Open — a stretch shaped by introspection, a battle with depression, and the birth of her child. And for a while on a sun-drenched Court Two, she summoned her vintage self — painting lines, pummelling serves, playing with purpose in this third round clash.
