NEW YORK – At just 26 years old, Naomi Osaka has already presented three distinct phases of her life.

Naomi 1.0 was a novelty—a shy yet powerful player who dazzled on the court, often seeming apologetic about her immense talent.

In contrast, Naomi 2.0 faced the challenges of adulthood, exploring personal identity while engaging in social justice issues, all while navigating the struggles of mental health compounded by her stardom.

Now, it seems Naomi 3.0 is somewhat overlooked, primarily because, since giving birth to her daughter, she hasn’t claimed as many victories.

However, that perspective is misguided. Even if Osaka never lifts another Grand Slam trophy or wins another match, we are witnessing her finest iteration. She now plays for the love of the game rather than necessity. This version of Osaka recognizes that the journey matters more than the end result and is not spiraling into despair when outcomes are unfavorable. She is embracing the path she has taken, valuing her experiences regardless of wins or losses.

This realization reached a high point on Tuesday when Osaka made her US Open comeback, defeating No. 10 seed Jelena Ostapenko with a decisive score of 6-3, 6-2, showcasing the formidable power tennis she demonstrated while winning four Grand Slam titles from 2018 to 2021.

<p”“I really respect her as a player, so I knew I had to perform well from the first point,” Osaka admitted, expressing her thoughts with her typical modesty and warmth.

Yet, it was clear that her victory on Tuesday held much deeper significance. After winning the final point, Osaka momentarily closed her eyes and looked up, breathing deeply as tears began to well up. Following the customary handshake and crowd acknowledgment at Louis Armstrong Stadium, she buried her face in a towel and sobbed.

“I had no idea if I’d be able to perform again at this level,” Osaka shared, articulating why this moment was so profound for someone whose past tears were often shed after defeats.

The reasons behind her emotional response are understandable.

Only a few months post-delivery last year, Osaka attended the US Open for a mental health discussion and watched Coco Gauff play in the semifinals at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The experience was both motivating and daunting for her.

Though she always intended to return to tennis after motherhood, the uncertainty of her comeback loomed large. How would her body cope? As a successful athlete now balancing motherhood, would she manage the rigorous demands of the sport? Would her competitive spirit remain strong after reaching her achievements? How would she measure up in a rapidly evolving sport filled with fierce competition?

These concerns materialized almost immediately upon her return to the circuit in January. If you removed her name, she’d appear as just another competitor: alternating wins and losses without finding consistent success. Making it to the quarterfinals or even the round of 16 felt like notable accomplishments. By the time she reached Cincinnati a few weeks ago, her ranking of No. 90 meant she had to navigate the qualifying rounds just to enter the main draw—only to lose in the second round.

But here’s the heartening aspect: she competed. More significantly, she continued to seize every opportunity, even when—by her own account—results were lacking.

The Naomi of her second version would have likely retreated from all challenges due to pressure. In contrast, Naomi 3.0 is hungry for more.

“I’m genuinely glad I participated in all the tournaments this year, even if the outcomes weren’t ideal,” she expressed. “I feel like I’ve learned from each match. Even though I didn’t perform well in the qualifications at Cincinnati, I gained an unusual confidence from that experience, as it represented one of the toughest moments in my career. But through all the hard work and aspirations, I hope to keep moving forward. Right now, I’m really pleased with my performance today.”

There’s no need to inflate the significance of one match. There’s no reason to proclaim that her victory over Ostapenko and her exceptional performance amounts to a major breakthrough. Osaka is set to face Karolina Muchova in the second round – a player she watched Gauff go against in the semifinals last year – and it could just be another minor setback before the season concludes, or perhaps this signals the beginning of an impressive run. Only time will reveal the outcome.

Despite her 18-16 record this year, Osaka’s most compelling performances have come against top-tier opponents. She edged close to defeating four-time champion Iga Swiatek at the French Open’s second round. She fought fiercely against recent Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen on grass in July, narrowly losing in a challenging three-set match. Additionally, she previously claimed victories against No. 12 Daria Kasatkina and No. 22 Elena Svitolina, adding her first win against a top 10 player since then.

“I’m uncertain if it’s motivation or simply a feeling that I have no option but to perform well,” Osaka expressed. “This mindset eases the expectations and pressures I place on myself since, regardless of the outcome, my tennis will still be enjoyable to watch, whether I win or lose. That’s how I approach matches against seeded and highly skilled players.”

This indicates that there’s still a flicker of the player she once was, patiently waiting for the chance to shine brightly again.

While it’s premature to determine if this new version of Naomi can capture a Grand Slam title, watching her play will definitely be a lot more engaging — and she will be much gentler on herself.