Rick Macci Backs Naomi Osaka for 2026 Top‑10 Return as She Opens Season at United Cup
The four-time major champion finished 2025 at No. 16 after a late surge under new coach Tomasz Wiktorowski.
Overview
- Macci wrote on X that Osaka will be a "wildcard" who pulls "many upsets" and ends 2026 inside the WTA top 10.
- Osaka replaced Patrick Mouratoglou with Tomasz Wiktorowski in July, then reached the Montreal WTA 1000 final and the US Open semifinal.
- She returned to the top 20 and closed the season ranked No. 16, her highest year-end standing since 2022.
- Osaka has arrived in Perth to start at the United Cup, with an opening match scheduled against Maria Sakkari and ranking points available.
- She said she feels she is slowly getting stronger, with early January events carrying added weight as Auckland points drop and only a third-round finish is to be defended in Melbourne.