Naomi Osaka vs Liudmila Samsonova Preview — Head-to-Head and Prediction for Berlin Open 2025

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka will begin her grass-court swing against Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova at the 2025 Berlin Tennis Open on Tuesday, June 17. It is expected to be a tough contest as both players seek a breakthrough.

Here’s a preview of this much-anticipated contest.

Naomi Osaka vs Liudmila Samsonova Match Details

• Fixture: Naomi Osaka vs. Liudmila Samsonova
• Date: June 17, 2025
• Tournament: Berlin Tennis Open
• Round: First ( Round of 32)
• Venue: Rot-Weiss Tennis Club, Berlin, Germany
• Category: WTA 500
• Surface: Outdoor Grass
• Live telecast: UK – BBC / US – Tennis Channel / Tennis Channel

Naomi Osaka vs Liudmila Samsonova Preview

Osaka has struggled this season, facing multiple early exits with injuries playing a major role. She reached the final at the ASB Classic but withdrew mid-match, and later also retired mid-match during the third round of the Australian Open due to an abdominal injury.

She couldn’t make an impact upon returning to the BNP Paribas Open, facing a first-round exit, and followed it with a fourth-round exit in Miami. After facing an opening-round defeat in Madrid, Osaka won her first title in nearly four years in Saint-Malo, but couldn’t impress going forward with a fourth-round defeat in Rome and a first-round elimination in Paris.

World-class tennis on Tuesday: Qinwen #Zheng takes on Elena #Rybakina and Naomi #Osaka faces Liudmila #Samsonova! Big names. Big matches. Big stage. Berlin is ready. 🎾 pic.twitter.com/TMbHQ3gMom

— Berlin Tennis Open (@berlin_tennis) June 16, 2025

Hoping to shift momentum in her favor, Osaka begins her Berlin Tennis Open campaign against Samsonova. The Russian has been an active presence on the singles circuit this season, with her best being a runner-up finish in Strasbourg, a semifinal finish in Adelaide, and a quarterfinal showing in Indian Wells.

She enters the WTA 500 event in Berlin following a fourth-round finish at the 2025 French Open. Samsonova defeated Mayar Sherif, Leyre Romero Gormaz, and Dayana Yastremska before falling to reigning Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen.

Naomi Osaka vs Liudmila Samsonova Head-to-Head

Osaka holds a narrow 2-1 head-to-head lead over Samsonova and had the last laugh in their most recent meeting in the first round of the Miami Open, claiming a 6-2, 6-4 win.

Naomi Osaka vs Liudmila Samsonova Prediction

Osaka will be hoping to find her rhythm on grass this season. Her results on the surface last year were underwhelming, with a first-round exit in Berlin and a second-round loss at Wimbledon. Her best showing came at the Libéma Open, where she reached the quarterfinals before falling to Bianca Andreescu in a tight three-set battle, 4-6, 6-3, 6-7.

Meanwhile, Samsonova had a slightly stronger campaign on grass last year, beginning with a title run at the Libéma Open. However, her momentum faded with a second-round exit at the Bad Homburg Open and a third-round loss at Wimbledon. Statistically, the Russian holds a grass-court win percentage of 63.64%, compared to Osaka’s 55.26%

More: Naomi Osaka Ramps Up Her Training on Grass in Berlin Days After Tears and Emotional Breakdown in Paris

This will mark their first meeting on grass, and given her slightly stronger record on the surface, Samsonova may hold a marginal edge over the former World No. 1.

Pick: Samsonova to win