Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka won her first WTA title since triumphing at the 2021 Australian Open after beating Slovenia's Kaja Juvan 6-1 7-5 in the final of the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo -- a WTA 125 tournament It was the 27-year-old Japanese player's first WTA title since she became a mother in July 2023 She took to social media to celebrate the victory Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst. That's one of my favorite things about life though, there's always room to grow and evolve. Thanks to everyone accompanying me on this journey, I know it's turbulent but it's also really fun and... pic.twitter.com/oR5OY5pTJN Osaka struggled with her lack of power and accuracy as she failed to progress beyond the second round of any Grand Slam last year. The former world No. 1, who reached the third round of the Australian Open in January, is set to feature in the main draw of the French Open later this month. She will rise to No. 48 in the WTA rankings on Monday. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. At this week's WTA 125 events, accepting a wild card in France worked out perfectly for Naomi Osaka, while Dalma Galfi and Bianca Andreescu picked up titles in Spain. Here's what took place at the clay-court WTA 125s over the weekend: Former World No. 1 Osaka of Japan collected the first WTA 125 title of her career on Sunday, defeating Kaja Juvan of Slovenia 6-1, 7-5 to win the L'Open 35 de Saint Malo title in Saint Malo, France. Of course, Osaka has been a significant champion in her career, winning four Grand Slam titles and three additional titles on the Hologic WTA Tour. But she had not won a singles title at any level since her most recent Grand Slam at the 2021 Australian Open. View this post on Instagram A post shared by L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo (@open_35) That all changed this week after Osaka took a wild card into the event as the No. 2 seed. Osaka dropped one set apiece to French hopes Diane Parry and Leolia Jeanjean, but she moved through the draw smoothly otherwise. Fun fact: this was not Osaka's first WTA 125 final. She finished runner-up to Yaroslava Shvedova at WTA 125 Hua Hin in 2015, nine-and-a-half years ago. Meanwhile, a quick shout-out goes to former Top 100 player Juvan, who ended a 12-month hiatus from tour in January and has already reached a WTA 125 final. The Saint Malo doubles title was won by No. 1 seeds Maia Lumsden and Makoto Ninomiya. They beat No. 2 seeds Oksana Kalashnikova and Angelica Moratelli 7-5, 6-2 in Saturday's final. View this post on Instagram A post shared by L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo (@open_35) Hungary's Galfi had never won a WTA 125 title until she hoisted the trophy at Oeiras last month. Now she has won two. On Saturday, Galfi swept past Rebeka Masarova of Switzerland 6-3, 6-0 to win the Catalonia Open title in Vic, Spain. Galfi is currently in the midst of a 10-match winning streak. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dalma Galfi (@dalmagalfi) This was a completely dominant week for surging Galfi. She did not lose more than four games in a set during her run through Vic. Galfi, who was a World No. 1 junior a decade ago, is arguably in the hottest form of her professional career. Three weeks ago she was ranked No. 149, but she is now projected to return to the Top 100 in Monday's updated PIF WTA Rankings. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Catalonia Open (@cataloniaopen) an additional Grand Slam champion took a wild card this week and ended it with a title 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu paired with Aldila Sutjiadi to win the Vic doubles title Andreescu and Sutjiadi defeated Lulu Sun and yet another Grand Slam finalist 6-4 in Friday's Catalonia Open doubles final Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version Today's print edition Home Delivery A man arrested for attempted murder after allegedly plowing his car into a group of elementary school children in Osaka last week told police that he dislikes people living without hardship The Osaka Prefectural Police Department is investigating how and why the 28-year-old suspect allegedly committed the assault.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); In the incident that took place on a road in the city of Osaka around 1:35 p.m seven elementary school children on their way home were hit by an SUV allegedly driven by Yazawa and suffered injuries Yazawa voluntarily quit his job as a radiographer late last month He rented the SUV at a rental car shop near Shin-Osaka Station on Tuesday Yazawa did not return the vehicle to the shop by the deadline of 8 a.m so I tried to kill elementary school children by ramming my car into them." 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To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Motorist held in Osaka on suspicion of attempted murder after seven children injured Police in the Japanese city of Osaka have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder after he drove his car into seven schoolchildren The children were walking home from school when the suspect appeared to deliberately drive the car at them on a quiet residential street at about 1.30pm local time A seven-year-old girl suffered a broken jaw and the other children – boys and girls aged seven and eight – are reported to have relatively light injuries All appeared to be conscious as they were taken to hospital an unemployed man from Higashimurayama city in Tokyo “I was just sick of everything so I decided to drive my car into the elementary school students to kill them,” Yazawa told police Teachers from the primary school are reported to have pulled the suspect out of the car where he had remained after driving into the children A mother in her 20s who had come to pick up her son told NHK: “The car was being driven erratically and it seems that it continued to move forward even after it had hit the children “My son was very shocked and has been crying the whole time He only just started elementary school last month I saw the man who had been driving the car He was very quiet and appeared to be in a daze.” Another witness told NHK that the car reversed back into the children after crashing into them An elementary school pupil told another news outlet that the man in the car had been “driving unsteadily” “I was walking along the side of the road and the car and suddenly it almost drove into us The second and third graders in front of me were injured and were bleeding from their heads after being trapped between the car and the wall,” the pupil said A white SUV that appeared to be the one used by the suspect was being examined by police Two weeks after facing off in the Madrid quarterfinals Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva could meet at the same stage of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia Rome: Draws | Scores | Order of play | Tournament info are the two youngest players in the Top 10 They have both been drawn into the second quarter of the Rome draw 7 seeds respectively are projected to meet in the last eight Gauff saved two set points en route to a 7-5 Madrid champion Aryna Sabalenka faces a tough path as she bids to keep her clay streak going 1 seed will open against either Dayana Yastremska or Anastasia Potapova Leylah Fernandez and Daria Kasatkina ahead of a potential quarterfinal against either No Our @WTA main draw is out 🤩Which matches are you looking forward to the most?#IBI25 pic.twitter.com/zbpSYcMV4e 2 seed Iga Swiatek will be aiming to get her season back on track following a Stuttgart loss to Jelena Ostapenko -- her sixth in  six meetings with the Latvian -- and a heavy 6-1 6-1 defeat at the hands of Gauff in Madrid Three-time champion Swiatek has thrived in Rome historically and will hope to rediscover that magic as she opens her title defense against either Elina Avanesyan or local favorite Elisabetta Cocciaretto The 32 seeds all have byes into the second round There are plenty of big names in first-round action ahead of that fresh off her first clay-court title at the Saint-Malo WTA 125 will start against beloved Italian veteran Sara Errani Petra Kvitova will bid for the first win of her comeback from maternity leave against Irina-Camelia Begu will open against Madrid quarterfinalist Marta Kostyuk Sabalenka came into Rome on high from winning Madrid -- only to be ousted in her opener by Sofia Kenin She'll get an unwelcome sense of déjà vu looking at this year's draw where 2020 Australian Open champion Kenin -- now the No and with a clay final of her own under her belt in Charleston -- lurks as a potential third-round clash Sabalenka could have to get past Yastremska the Ukrainian who leads their head-to-head 3-1 (though Sabalenka's one win was here in Rome last year) Potential fourth-round opponents include No 24 seed Leylah Fernandez -- they have not played since the Canadian scored a memorable upset in the 2021 US Open semifinals -- and Kostyuk who held set points in both sets in their Madrid quarterfinal meeting last week 8 seed Zheng Qinwen would put Sabalenka in more comfortable head-to-head territory But Zheng herself will have to face either fast-rising Olga Danilovic or doubles No then navigate a section that includes former World No 11 seed) and 2019 US Open winner Bianca Andreescu returning once again from another lengthy lay-off Rybakina will start against one of this year's most improved players: either Madrid quarterfinalist Moyuka Uchijima or Eva Lys First-round matches to watch: Dayana Yastremska vs Gauff's projected quarterfinal against Andreeva would be another marquee match but both face plenty of hurdles to get there will start against either Viktoriya Tomova or a qualifier 30 seed Linda Noskova potentially awaiting in the third round but the American has a few dangerous names in her path too: former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova returning from a three-month layoff due to a shoulder injury Three of Gauff's five career meetings with Belinda Bencic have come in 2025 A fourth could be on its way this week: the pair could meet again in the Rome third round Gauff has to get past either wild card Arianna Zucchini or a qualifier first and returning mother Bencic has to navigate a qualifier and then No Gauff has won two of their three meetings this year including in last week's Madrid fourth round Gauff is slated to face fellow American and Doha champion Amanda Anisimova in the last 16 in what would be a rematch of the 2017 US Open girls' final The pair have split two previous professional meetings -- Gauff winning their only clay-court encounter at Parma 2021 before Anisimova took revenge at Wimbledon 2022 Anisimova will potentially need to get past either No 21 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova or former US Open champion Emma Raducanu Raducanu will need to defeat a qualifier to set up a second-round meeting with Alexandrova First-round matches to watch: Qualifier vs 3 seed Jessica Pegula heads the third quarter Neither player has gone beyond the quarterfinals in Rome yet 1 Paolini has a tough path to get there: No 12 seed Karolina Muchova -- who withdrew from Madrid due to illness -- or No who powered her way to the Stuttgart title three weeks ago Both Muchova and Ostapenko have intriguing second rounds ahead Twelve months after edging Rebecca Sramkova in a thrilling third-set tiebreak in the Rome fourth round Ostapenko could face a rematch in her opener this year could face Anastasija Sevastova in what would promise to be a feast of finesse 11 Sevastova upset Ostapenko en route to the Madrid third round in her second tournament back from injury Pegula will open against either Ashlyn Krueger or a qualifier She is projected to face Diana Shnaider in the fourth round the No 13 seed who is rounding back into top form with new coach Dinara Safina -- the 2009 Rome champion -- by her side First-round matches to watch: [SR] Petra Kvitova vs All eyes will be on whether Swiatek can rebound in one of her favorite venues on tour The Pole has not made a final since winning Roland Garros nearly a year ago and has suffered a series of confidence-sapping losses this year Swiatek enjoys a head-to-head advantage over most of her main rivals in her section But plenty of them have scored notable wins over her defeated her in the 2022 Australian Open semifinals and has subsequently stretcher her to three sets on three occasions Swiatek is slated to face two-time champion and No The Ukrainian is fresh off an 11-match winning streak encompassing the Rouen title and Madrid semifinals and ousted Swiatek in the 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinals who defeated Swiatek from match point down in the Australian Open semifinals and then scored a 6-0 first set over her in last week's Madrid quarterfinals though the Spaniard has been struggling with a recurrence of her back injury and was forced to pull out of Madrid Osaka -- who held match point on Swiatek at Roland Garros last year -- could well be a dark horse in this section after her run in Saint-Malo First-round matches to watch: [WC] Sara Errani vs Osaka won the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo tournament in France on Sunday her first title since the birth of her daughter France — Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka claimed her first WTA title since triumphing at the 2021 Australian Open — and on her seemingly worst surface 7-5 Sunday to win L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo — a WTA 125 tournament — and secure her first ever trophy on clay It was also the Japanese player’s first WTA title since she became a mother in July 2023 returning to tennis at the start of the following year “Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst,” Osaka wrote on X “That’s one of my favorite things about life though “Thanks to everyone accompanying me on this journey I know it’s turbulent but it’s also really fun and I’m grateful.” Osaka has two Australian Open and two U.S. Open crowns on hard courts but has a poor record at the French Open and pulled out of the clay-court tournament in 2021 before the second round to take a mental health break The 27-year-old’s clay-court season had started with a loss in the first round of the Madrid Open last month A Division of NBCUniversal DISCLAIMER: This site and the products offered are for entertainment purposes only and there is no gambling offered on this site This service is intended for adult audiences No guarantees are made for any specific outcome If you or someone you know has a gambling problem A few hours ago, Osaka posted an image of an employment form accompanied by a pointed caption: “This is for everyone that constantly has {expletive} to say.” The post appeared to be aimed at silencing critics of her recent form and career choices — but instead, it ignited a wave of backlash online. Many fans interpreted the post as a tone-deaf jab at unemployed individuals, accusing Osaka of weaponizing her financial privilege to mock those without jobs — all while attempting to deflect from criticism over her current tennis performance. Tennis Twitter didn’t hold back. While Osaka’s fanbase is typically loyal and supportive, this time, even longtime followers expressed disappointment over the tone and timing of her message. “Mama let’s prepare for the 125k final and put the phone down,” one user wrote, mocking Osaka’s recent participation in lower-tier tournaments on the WTA circuit. “Girl nobody even said {expletive} about you, everybody was busy watching the Madrid final,” another replied. “Mind you, you’ve never filled out one of these in your life. Watch your multimillionaire a{expletive} tone,” another fan commented, highlighting the disconnect between Osaka’s wealth and the realities faced by average citizens. The criticism highlights a growing tension between celebrities and fans in the age of social media — where public figures, especially those with massive platforms like Osaka, are held to increasing standards of accountability and awareness. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has been making her return to tennis after maternity leave and a prolonged absence from top-level competition. She has recently played in several smaller tournaments as part of her comeback, facing both encouragement and scrutiny along the way. While she has spoken openly about mental health and the pressures of fame in the past — often earning praise for her vulnerability — this latest post seemed to backfire, with critics accusing her of punching down instead of rising above the noise. As of now, Osaka has not issued a statement or apology in response to the backlash. It remains unclear whether the post was meant to be sarcastic, humorous or directly confrontational — but the fan response has made it clear that the delivery missed the mark. Naomi Osaka will face Kaja Juvan in the finals of the 125k event in Saint-Malo in a few hours. Regardless of the result, getting 3 consecutive wins under her belt, should give her enough confidence heading into Paris. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Osaka had not lifted silverware since triumphing at the 2021 Australian Open I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka has won her first title since returning to action from a maternity break Having not lifted silverware since triumphing at the 2021 Australian Open, she beat Slovenia's Kaja Juvan 6-1, 7-5 in the final of the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo to bring home her first WTA title in four years the 27-year-old Japanese star became a mother in July 2023 “Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst,” Osaka posted on X That’s one of my favourite things about life though Her victory comes after she lashed out at fans on social media posting a job application form for those who “constantly had sh** to say” after booking her spot in the Saint Malo final Osaka has struggled with her lack of power and accuracy as she failed to progress beyond the second round of any Grand Slam last year The former world No 1, who reached the third round of the Australian Open in January before retiring due to injury, is set to feature in the main draw of the French Open later this month. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Come back closer to the match starting time for the WTA insider live blog Osaka bested Slovenia's Kaja Juvan 6-1 7-5 in the final of the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo The WTA 125 tournament win was Osaka’s first since she returned to the circuit after taking time off for the birth of her first child in 2023 NAOMI OSAKA WINS HER FIRST EVER TITLE ON CLAY! 🧡🏆 pic.twitter.com/FfKnsmhF5V While Osaka has not regained the form that got her to No the win this weekend was a step towards reclaiming her place ranked amongst the best in tennis A WTA 125 tournament is far from the challenge of a grand slam—Juvan was ranked 515th in the world entering the tournament—but Osaka getting matches back under her belt still goes a long way in her comeback effort explaining that it was not how she expected to get her first win back from break “Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst,” she wrote Thanks to everyone accompanying me on this journey Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst. That’s one of my favorite things about life though, there’s always room to grow and evolve. Thanks to everyone accompanying me on this journey, I know it’s turbulent but it’s also really fun and… pic.twitter.com/oR5OY5pTJN Osaka might still be fighting her way up the rankings but the sport knows just how good she can be when she’s at her best Tennis fans are eager to see if she can keep the momentum going in two weeks when the French Open is set to begin The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Last Title Was 2021 Australian Open.css-3hcdeq{margin:0;font-size:1.2rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:Proxima Nova,Proxima Nova Fallback Helvetica,Proxima Nova Fallback Arial;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;letter-spacing:0rem;line-height:1.44rem;color:var(--br--palette-foreground__tertiary-mainChannel);}Scott PolacekMay 4 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 150ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;font-size:inherit;}.css-v4v4rs{-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;fill:currentColor;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;-webkit-transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;font-size:inherit;}@media (min-width:0px){.css-v4v4rs{display:block;}}@media (min-width:1100px){.css-v4v4rs{display:none;}}.css-mps3fk{-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;fill:currentColor;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;-webkit-transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 The four-time Grand Slam winner captured the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo tournament title on Sunday by defeating Kaja Juvan 6-1 7-5 in the final of the WTA 125 tournament "That's one of my favorite things about life though there's always room to grow and evolve I know it's turbulent but it's also really fun and I'm grateful." .css-1xiyrl{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;aspect-ratio:unset;}The tournament was played on a clay surface which is the same one as the French Open in Roland Garros Osaka has won the Australian Open twice and the U.S Open twice but never advanced past the round of 32 at Roland Garros on clay She will have the opportunity to change that this year when the tournament begins later this month and looked ready to compete on clay surface in her most recent showing Stephanie Livaudais of Tennis.com noted Osaka will return to the WTA's Top 50 rankings Monday following her victory That is true even though the WTA 125 is a level below the WTA Tour and a level above ITF events Livaudais called it "another milestone in her comeback" after previously taking time away from the sport for maternity leave and mental health reasons Osaka retired in the final of the ASB Classic lost in the round of 32 in the Australian Open lost in the round of 128 in the BNP Paribas Open reached the round of 16 in the Miami Open and won this tournament the 27-year-old was hailed as the winner of the L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo in France after defeating Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan with a 6-1 After her win, the Japanese player expressed her deep gratitude to fans and supporters in a heartfelt Instagram post. which she initially thought was her "worst," ultimately led her to reflect on a positive outlook on life "Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst," she wrote "That’s one of my favorite things about life though there’s always room to grow and evolve I know it’s turbulent but it’s also really fun and I’m grateful." The post garnered not just congratulatory messages from fans but also an outpouring of admiration for her resilience and positive attitude “Ups and downs you have already proven it to yourself Such a joy to support you,” a fan added In addition to the positive reactions from her followers the four-time Grand Slam winner also received a new nickname from her supporters and followers After her victorious moment at the WTA tournament fans affectionately dubbed Osaka "Clayomi," a playful blend of Naomi and clay as it marked her first-ever win on the clay surface CALL HER CLAYOMI,” a follower commented Winning looks good on you,” a commenter chimed in Social media users continued to hype Osaka The same goes for another poster who wrote Let’s go Clayomi,” while a different user said In addition to her first win on clay, this victory also marked Osaka's first triumph after taking a maternity break. Naomi Osaka against Yulia Starodubtseva at the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium The tennis champion welcomed her first child Services were temporarily disrupted Wednesday on the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line connecting Tokyo and Osaka after a snake tangled in overhead wires and caused a power outage The incident occurred between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations around 5:25 p.m. causing suspensions on the Tokyo-bound trains between Shin-Osaka and Nagoya and the Osaka-bound trains between Shin-Osaka and Tokyo Passengers gathered around staff at Nagoya Station seeking explanations for the delay while large crowds also formed lines at the ticket machines "I use the shinkansen several times a month but this is the first time I have experienced suspensions due to a power outage," said Satoshi Tagawa "I am relieved," said 26-year-old Kazutoshi Tachi "But I am fed up with the troubles (with shinkansen services) Chance to touch "Doctor Yellow" bullet train, lucky icon in Japan Japan train station officials railing at trespassing Evangelion fans India weighs Japan's next-generation bullet train for high-speed rail To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible read on to learn more about what to explore at this landmark event Green roofs are woven throughout which will change with the seasons Within, four key event facilities tailored to diverse functions — from hosting dignitaries to accommodating performances and cultural exchanges — bring the masterplan to life with its Japanese-style corridor and garden inspired by the 1970 Osaka Expo’s Tower of the Sun The EXPO National Day Hall celebrates international exchange through its layered indoor-outdoor spaces and EXPO Messe provides a platform for global dialogue and trade rising via a winding staircase into an observation balcony visitors cross an immersive threshold before arriving at a verdant terrace resembling a slice of nature serving as a protective barrier above the building honoring France’s rich cultural and environmental contributions in the 21st century The design team envisions the pavilion to welcome all living species to convene throughout the Expo extending its lifecycle beyond the event to engage in a virtuous loop of reuse and recycling France Pavilion | image by Julien Lanoo © Coldefy & CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati references traditional wood preservation techniques while prompting reflection on climate challenges the open-plan space hosts an immersive exhibition showcasing Nordic innovations in sustainability Complemented by an entrance area and rooftop terrace the pavilion fosters dialogue and discovery celebrating the region’s values of collaboration Th Czech Republic’s pavilion designed by international studio Apropos Architects, Sculpting Vitality, is a transparent, spiraling volume that is visible on the city’s coastal promenade. The architects sought to play with the concept of vitality and movement presenting an exhibition ramp wrapped around a central auditorium ‘The dynamic spiral movement upwards is an allegory of the ideal life path,’ describes the team The resulting structure sees a distinctive silhouette that fosters visitors into physical activity through continuous motion Its glazed body that pivots upwards around itself recalls the rich history of glassmaking in the Czech Republic and provides distinctive exhibition spaces with a changing interior atmosphere The artificial light throughout the interior gives the structure a delicate glow that makes it shine from the outside image © BoysPlayNice Designed by WOO and delivered by ES Global the UK Pavilion is a tribute to British creativity delving into its heritage and innovations from the Industrial Revolution to the digital age the facade subtly shifts with daylight and transforms at night to reveal a glowing Union Jack This playful surface animated by light nods to the evolution of early programmable technology linking the textile industries that fueled industrial growth with Britain’s leadership in gaming and design with sweeping terraces and serene gardens mirroring the nation’s rolling landscape a fluid and accessible visitor journey leads through exhibitions ATELIER BRÜCKNER and NUSSLI’s Uzbekistan Pavilion commissioned by the Uzbekistan Arts and Culture Development Foundation is conceived as a dynamic and reusable architectural experiment the pavilion will be dismantled after the Expo and reconstructed in Uzbekistan The design reflects Uzbekistan’s interpretation of the Expo’s theme by forming a social and educational hub Its architectural composition revolves around three key elements: a ground-level garden representing the nation’s landscape a forest of wooden columns inspired by traditional craftsmanship and a central sculpture symbolizing connection and innovation image © ATELIER BRÜCKNER | courtesy of ACDF Bahrain’s national pavilion is designed by architect Lina Ghotmeh who pays tribute to the nation’s maritime legacy through a timber structure that evokes traditional dhow boats the pavilion symbolizes the country’s historic role as a key maritime hub in the Gulf and inside showcases its craftsmanship and natural resources the pavilion also underscores the long-standing cultural ties between Bahrain and Japan Heritage boat-building techniques are integrated while passive cooling strategies are incorporated to reduce environmental impact Likewise drawing on maritime heritage, Kengo Kuma & Associates’ design for the Qatar Pavilion weaves together two distinct yet connected traditions: Qatar’s dhow boat-building heritage and Japan’s intricate wooden joinery The result is a lightweight timber structure enveloped in a billowing white fabric reminiscent of a ship’s sail — celebrating Qatar’s history and its trade routes across the Indian Ocean the pavilion’s exhibitions highlight Qatar’s progress under the National Vision 2030 as well as investment and development strategies shaping the country’s economic diversification Trahan Architects’ two-winged USA Pavilion frames a central plaza with panoramic LED screens displaying various American landscapes the gently arched design symbolizes balance and connectivity translucent cube that reflects both the surrounding environment and visitors immersive exhibits transport guests across American cities The pavilion’s construction further aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals incorporating repurposed materials from the Tokyo Olympics Foster + Partners’ design for Saudi Arabia’s pavilion weaves a multi-sensory journey through the Kingdom’s landscapes the structure clad in lightweight Saudi stone echoes the kingdom’s traditional villages shaped by computational fluid dynamics to optimize natural cooling and airflow leads into narrow streets leading to the Saudi Courtyard a central gathering space for exhibitions and cultural performances a network of immersive galleries highlights Saudi Arabia’s technological innovations and heritage Built from low-carbon materials and incorporating photovoltaic panels the structure is set to achieve Japan’s highest green building rating.  image © Nigel Young / Foster + Partners the Pavilion will also hold the smallest ecological footprint. ‘The shell of the exhibition spaces is composed of a foil supported by a lightweight construction It weighs no more than 400kg — just 1% of a conventional building shell — and can be transported with two to three cargo bikes The foil is recyclable and will be made into specially designed furniture after the Expo,’ writes House of Switzerland Designed by LAVA studio, the Kuwait Pavilion presents itself as a Visionary Lighthouse symbolizing the nation’s role in the Gulf region and its commitment to sustainable growth Its striking silhouette evokes expansive wings wrapped in a luminous front that transforms at night reinforcing its theme of illumination and knowledge-sharing This form symbolizes Kuwaiti hospitality and a beacon guiding future progress while a domed central space inspired by the stillness of desert nights invites reflection on Kuwait’s aspirations A courtyard filled with native flora adds to the immersive experience while four exhibition rooms showcase the nation’s history The experience culminates in a grand dome projection where visitors can contribute their own visions for the future Designed by Kengo Kuma, Portugal’s pavilion recalls the nation’s deep ties to the waters under the theme Ocean: The Blue Dialogue. With suspended ropes and recycled fishing nets evoking waves the facade appears to float and lends the impression of a wave caught in motion symbolizing the nation’s maritime heritage The structure’s eco-friendly materiality further champions a circular economy highlighting Portugal’s role as a leader in addressing global challenges such as climate change The architects have divided the pavilion’s interior is divided in two sections Sharing Knowledge explores Portugal’s 500-year maritime connection with Japan and interactive exhibits that trace the evolution of ocean sustainability technologies is a multimedia experience culminating in a five-minute audiovisual installation that envisions a balanced relationship between humanity and the ocean.  Hungary’s forest-like pavilion echoes Sou Fujimoto’s circular island masterplan in its intricate materiality and experiential journey The structure is rooted in heritage and a deep cultural connection shaped from natural materials — namely small panels of wood and vernacular techniques shared by Hungarian and Japanese architecture The exhibition will present a multi-sensory journey through a verdant path enlivened with Hungarian folk melodies that begin the visitor journey atmospheric performance space that brings the tales of local legends to life This immersive theater space is tucked beneath a wooden dome reminiscent of a haystack alluding to rural life in Hungarian history image courtesy of Hungarian Pavilion and Expo 2025 Osaka Azerbaijan’s pavilion designed by Bellprat Partner and ELEVEN intertwines storytelling with technology and architecture drawing on the nation’s literary and cultural heritage it references the legendary tale of the Seven Beauties translating its poetic themes into a sequence of monumental This spatial narrative explores Azerbaijan’s evolving identity with each arch serving as a symbolic gateway to different aspects of the country’s history The metallic volume houses immersive exhibitions within enhanced by digital installations and interactive displays that bring the nation’s stories to life Additional pavilions celebrating collaborative visions for the future will provide distinct perspectives on global challenges and cultural expressions. Shigeru Ban brings a statement of environmental awareness with the Blue Ocean Dome the centerpiece of the Osaka-Kansai Pavilion It takes on urgent themes: plastic marine pollution These are at once passive exhibits and active calls to action SANAA’s Better Co-being pavilion at the Expo’s center emphasized co-creation and mutual respect among all life forms The structure is designed without a traditional roof or walls resembling an abstract grove of trees and seamlessly blending with the natural environment Also taking inspiration from nature and embodying a full-circle approach to sustainability, Takenaka Corporation’s cluster of temporary pavilions, Architecture that Becomes a Forest is crafted from plant-based resin using 3D printing technology to serve as rest areas throughout the Expo the structures are envisioned to biodegrade enriching the soil and transforming the site into a flourishing forest.  Cartier will also be presenting the Women’s Pavilion to champion the significance of gender equality and women’s contributions the pavilion draws inspiration from traditional kumiko woodworking techniques with an immersive environment curated by Es Devlin that brings together works by artists such as Naomi Kawase and Mariko Mori Anime enthusiasts will be drawn to the Gundam Pavilion by Bandai Namco will host interactive exhibits and showcase the cultural impact of Gundam on a global scale and insights into the franchise’s history and future developments reflecting Japan’s comedic heritage with live performances and interactive exhibits.  and distinctive round eyes around the base mirroring the mascot’s playful aesthetic Alongside the architectural pavilions and the playful presence of Myaku-Myaku, Expo 2025 Osaka will host various cultural and artistic initiatives and public programming. The Art Expo in particular will feature approximately 300 fountains and water and air shows that will tell stories of the elements through light and sound performances engaging visitors with the Expo’s sub-themes: Saving Lives Within the Forest of Tranquility installations will showcase the healing power of nature allowing visitors to feel its breath of life many creators have been invited to bring the exterior walls to life with projection mapping complemented by artwork installations throughout the venue.  will play a prominent role in the event’s agenda with the Future Society Showcase Project Exhibition highlighting cutting-edge technologies and concepts: the Smart Mobility Expo will introduce hydrogen fuel cell ships as a cleaner transportation option for visitors; the Digital Expo plans to implement NTT’s All-Photonics Network low-latency communication environment throughout the venue; and the Green Expo will demonstrate environmental initiatives to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the installation of solar cells to expand renewable energy usage event: Expo 2025 Osaka | @expo2025japan AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style which means “dream island,” a reclaimed industrial waste burial site in the Osaka Bay where participants from more than 160 countries regions and organizations showcase their futuristic exhibits inside about 80 pavilions of unique architecture where Expo 2025 has officially opened with cutting-edge exhibits from more than 160 countries With everything from flying cars to hands-free wheelchairs Japan is showcasing bold visions of tomorrow’s technology Participants sing Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” on the opening day of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka Visitor queue to enter the Nordic Circle pavilion on the opening day of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka A kangaroo sculpture is seen at Australia’s pavilion the day before the opening of the Expo 2025 in Osaka 2025 prior to the opening day of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka uses a robot to help navigate those who have visual Impairment as they show its testing at the Expo 2025 on the opening day in Osaka India’s pavilion is seen incomplete to open for the opening day of the Expo 2025 in Osaka People visit the opening day of the Expo 2025 in Osaka Dancers practice in preparation for Indonesia’s pavilion the day before the opening of the Expo 2025 in Osaka 2025 prior to the opening of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka Elephant sculptures are seen at Thailand’s pavilion the day before the opening of the Expo 2025 in Osaka Officials participate in the opening of Germany’s pavilion on the opening day of the Expo 2025 in Osaka People visit Algeria’s pavilion during the Expo 2025 in Osaka A staff member at Algeria’s pavilion greets visitors during the Expo 2025 in Osaka A woman looks at displays at Peru’s pavilion during the Expo 2025 in Osaka People visit Peru’s pavilion during the Expo 2025 in Osaka A women demonstrates weaving at Saudi Arabia’s pavilion during the Expo 2025 in Osaka A visitor dances to music performed at Saudi Arabia’s pavilion during the Expo 2025 in Osaka Here is what to know about the Expo 2025 Osaka: regions and organizations showcase their futuristic exhibits inside about 80 pavillons of unique architecture “Creating a future society for our lives” is the main theme It is Osaka’s second Expo after the hugely successful 1970 event that attracted 64 million visitors AP correspondent Julie Walker reports the Osaka Expo opens in Japan offering a vision of the future Organizers expect 28 million visitors through mid-October “It’s been 55 years since the last Expo in Osaka I’ve been looking forward to it,” said Daiki Chiba about 900 kilometers (560 miles) northeast of Osaka Many visitors carried Myaku-Myaku mascots or wore clothes matching its colors — red The Expo comes only four years after Japan struggled to host the no-audience Tokyo Olympics during the coronavirus pandemic Japan wants to turn the pinch into a chance “I think the timing is actually quite fitting,” said Sachiko Yoshimura “Holding the Expo now could eventually help to address the divisions in the world I believe this Expo in Japan might actually lead to stronger international relationships and improvements.” is a lattice-like structure encircling the venue and recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest wooden architecture It is 20 meters (65 feet) high and has a 2-kilometer (1.2-mile) circumference The costly ring takes up more than 14% of the Expo’s total spending of 235 billion yen ($1.64 billion) and has triggered public criticism The total cost nearly doubled from the initial estimate largely due to the weaker yen The ring is supposed to be partially reusable reflecting the theme of creating a sustainable future as well as pop culture like Hello Kitty and Gundam “Pavilions all look amazing,” said Laurel Sylvester from New Zealand visiting with her husband and two children Her family is interested in ocean sustainability and planned to visit the Blue Ocean Dome She said the boys are “super excited to have their photo with the (big Gundam) robot and some of the interesting tech things that are going on.” A small artificial heart made from induced pluripotent stem cells demonstrated a heartbeat at a Japanese health care pavilion A human washing machine that was a sensation at the 1970 expo returned with a high-tech makeover Its lunar stone from the Apollo 12 mission exhibits soil samples from its lunar missions Carrying a “Not for sale” sign and decorated with its blue-and-yellow national flags Ukraine attracted many visitors with a globe and other items carrying barcodes visitors can see videos showing people’s lives at war and their reconstruction effort said his country’s participation was undecided until December due to the war The preparation was finished Sunday morning smiley creature Myaku-Myaku welcomes visitors The imaginary creature was born from the fusion of cells and water in a small spring in the Kansai region The friendly but clumsy character can transform into various shapes and is good at finding a rainbow after the rain Expo visitors call Thailand Pavilion a missed opportunity The Thai pavilion at the Osaka Exposition has faced criticism for being a costly project that failed to answer the theme set by the organisers and missed an opportunity to showcase the country's strengths to global visitors The world's most-watched exhibition in the Japanese city runs under the main concept of "Designing Future Society for Our Lives." However, some Thai visitors left Thailand Pavilion disappointed feeling that it did not adequately represent the country's role in connection with the theme.  One of the most shared posts reflecting this sentiment was by Unchalin Punnipa a SET-listed insurance broker.  His comment expressing disappointment has been shared by more than 1,500 Facebook users since it was posted on Thursday "The theme of the event is about the future of the world I expected a better exhibition given the substantial budget used I felt sad and sorry for this missed opportunity," he added "I left the pavilion with despair and disappointment." Several followers of his social media page agreed with his comments expressing their disappointment after visiting the pavilion or following the topic Content by bureaucrat," wrote Facebook user Veenie Nichapatr They urged Thai organisers to reconsider and revamp the content as the event has just begun and will run for almost six months Suggestions included showcasing the country's innovations related to health and well-being that align with the Expo theme with Thailand among 158 participating countries is one of the Thai dishes highlighted at Thailand Pavilion (Photo: @n_itsuki X account via THpavilion2025 X account) What impressed some Japanese Expo-goers was the food and what he apparently enjoyed most was Thai food Another Japanese visitor wrote on the @n_itsuki X account that the food inside the Thai exhibition was a reminder of Thailand The Thai organisers at the Expo wrote on Thursday that they welcomed all feedback and defended their presentation saying the exhibition would highlight the country's strong position on health and wellness issues resources and services to give visitors smiles and happiness for a long time," they wrote Thailand Pavilion and its exhibition were built with a budget of 900 million baht with the Public Health Ministry overseeing the project secretary to Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said during a press conference unveiling the pavilion on Feb 5 that Thailand's presence at the Expo aims to showcase the country as the health centre of the world By subscribing, you accept the terms and conditions in our privacy policy The 2025 World Expo in Osaka officially opened to the public on Sunday The Yumeshima train station near the venue was crowded with people heading for the event On the "Grand Ring," which is a symbol of the Expo about 10,000 people sang Beethoven's Symphony No The Grand Ring is the world's largest wooden structure built in a shape that wraps around overseas pavilions with a circumference of about 2 kilometers More than 140,000 people are expected to visit on the first day Countries participating in the Expo have begun opening their pavilions with ceremonial events The theme of the German pavilion is "Circular Economy." It is composed of a group of seven cylindrical wooden buildings The pavilion provides hands-on displays for visitors to learn about the circulation of natural water and plants and Germany's efforts to promote the reuse of various products A visitor in her 60s from Osaka said she wanted to go to the German pavilion first because she visited Germany last year and liked it a lot She said the structure is nice and that she was very glad to be able to visit the country's traditional lion dance performance created a ceremonial atmosphere The pavilion is shaped like an unfolded traditional Chinese calligraphy scroll The walls are covered with ancient Confucian words and poems The exhibition inside includes replicas of unearthed articles from ancient civilization with some as precious as national treasures Soil samples from the far side of the moon are also on display A Chinese lunar rover was the first to ever collect such samples Humanoid robots equipped with artificial intelligence developed by a Chinese firm are prepared to guide visitors A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at around 8:30 a.m at the venue on the man-made island of Yumeshima It was attended by Minister for the World Expo 2025 Ito Yoshitaka who heads the association overseeing the Expo and participants cut a ribbon to mark the opening The Grand Ring expresses the expo's concept of "Unity in Diversity." The pavilions of participating countries are housed within it Exhibits feature a miniature artificial beating heart made of iPS cells and "flying cars" with three groups holding flight demonstrations and organizations will each be allocated a "National Day." This will provide an opportunity to hold ceremonies and events for guests to further understand unique cultures and traditions The organizers are expecting over 28 million visitors by October with more than 140,000 visitors arriving on opening day expo organizers say that some countries have postponed their opening for the time being in order to complete preparations The latest expo information updates will be available on the official website The opening ceremony of the 2025 World Expo themed "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," was held in Osaka on Saturday including Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and those representing participating countries "It is my sincere hope that Expo 2025 Osaka Japan will serve as an opportunity for people around the world to respect not only their own lives but also the lives of those around them and the various forms of life that exist in nature and to be inspired to work together to create a sustainable future." who is the event's honorary president placed his hand over a transparent plate to open a screen A video of a fanfare performance on the Grand Ring "The world is facing various crises of "division" now I believe it is extremely meaningful for people from around the globe to come together to discuss the theme of "life" and to be exposed to cutting-edge technology High school students from Osaka Prefecture carrying flags of participating countries and international organizations marched as part of the performance Traditional kabuki and Japanese drumming was also included You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed domestic androids and artificial hearts are part of showcase on ‘unloved’ island As clunky as it sounds, “designing a future society for our lives” isn’t a bad ambition for the world in these troubled times. From this Sunday, organisers of the 2025 Exposition in Osaka will be hoping that appeal will put the event’s unsettled preparations in the shade for a six-month celebration of our common humanity The western Japan city is preparing to host its second World Expo 55 years after the first was held in a country eager to capitalise on fading memories of the second world war as it embarked on its postwar journey to become an industrial and technological powerhouse Then, 64 million people descended on Osaka’s northern suburbs to view the Tower of the Sun – still a popular site in the commemorative park – and a moon rock retrieved by Apollo 12 The 2025 version opens under a geopolitical cloud dark enough to cast a shadow over the 960-acre grounds on the reclaimed Yumeshima (“Dream Island”) a former dumping ground for industrial waste and a plot of land in perennial need of a purpose The expo is the most convincing attempt yet to make use of the unloved island with Osaka’s industrial skyline on one side and the busy shipping lanes of the Seto inland sea on the other 150 countries and regions will showcase the best of their culture and technology albeit with an acknowledgment that humanity is more divided than at any time most of the millions of expected visitors can recall marvel at a Martian meteorite discovered by Japanese scientists in Antarctica in 2000 interact with androids that could one day live in their homes view a beating artificial heart made of stem cells and – not for the ­faint-hearted – stare back at an image of what they might look like in 25 years’ time A woman poses for a photo in front of Myaku-Myaku Photograph: Richard A Brooks/AFP/Getty ImagesViewed from the grand ring – a 2km (1.24 mile) wooden promenade that encircles the waterfront site – there is an incongruity to the 150 pavilions from the flamboyance of Turkmenistan to the neat wooden contours of Japan And all separated by lots of Tarmac and concrete built with a traditional joinery method used in the construction of ancient shrines and temples cedar and pine beams destined to become a shady oasis when Japan unleashes its brutal summer heat midway through the  event The expo theme’s tagline – “towards a brighter future for all” – feels laughably elusive but credit should go to the organisers for addressing the harsh realities of the world outside The blue and yellow sign over Ukraine’s booth states that the country is “not for sale” echoing comments from the country’s president In August visitors will be able to take part in a virtual reality experience corner for conflict zones in Gaza in a space currently devoted to 80 years of the United Nations and its constituent departments and agencies Palestine’s space is to be found in the far corner of a shared pavilion although its organisers claim the shipment of several planned exhibits has been delayed by Israeli authorities whose pavilion includes a stone from the Western Wall in Jerusalem The reported delay is in keeping with Osaka’s bumpy road to Expo 2025 Construction was hit by labour shortages and the soaring cost of building materials – the project’s initial price tag of ¥125bn has soared to ¥235bn (from £666m to £1.25bn) – while interest among the Japanese public has so far been lukewarm The 1970 Osaka Expo’s 64 million visitors was a record until Shanghai in 2010 only 8.7m advance tickets have been sold for 2025 workers were still flattening strips of tactile paving for visitors with visual ­impairments while activity around incomplete pavilions gave them the feel of a supermarket tradesmen’s entrance The 1,500 trees comprising the Forest of Tranquillity will need time to bed in Organisers have been given last-minute jitters by the discovery of potentially explosive concentrations of methane gas, as well as concern about overcrowding at the new subway station serving the site and, on social media, disbelief at the lack of cubicle walls in the children’s lavatories and an upgraded version of a “human washing machine” that proved a hit at the 1970 event conceded the event was opening at a time when minds are focused on wars “The whole global ­situation is very unstable,” he told CNN But he added: “I believe this is a really precious opportunity to show so many countries can come together in one place and think about our future together.” That lofty vision will be fleeting, however. The pavilions – and Fujimoto’s “sustainable” edifice – will be dismantled later this year to make way for Japan’s first casino the longer odds could be on selling the idea that the expo movement’s bricks-and-­mortar appeal for global unity will strike a chord in a hyper-connected This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Unleashed at Expo 2025 Osaka as part of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries pavilion themed ‘Mobile Instincts,’ CORLEO is a futuristic off-road mobility concept. Combining the energy of motorcycling with advanced robotics and designed to conquer mountains and traverse rugged terrains the hydrogen-powered machine walks on four robotic legs equipped with adaptive hooves Echoing Kawasaki’s long-standing ‘Fun to Ride’ philosophy this concept offers riders a unique outdoor riding experience CORLEO represents the Japanese corporation’s vision of mobility in 2050 The chassis of the Kawasaki vehicle mimics the responsive feel of a motorcycle it uses independently articulating legs with swing arms that absorb impact and adapt to uneven ground Each leg ends in a hoof made from slip-resistant rubber split left-to-right to conform to varied surfaces like grass This legged mobility platform maintains balance and stability while also keeping the rider’s body in a forward-looking posture even when ascending steep slopes or climbing steps A 150cc hydrogen engine generates electricity to power the leg-mounted drive units with a rear-mounted hydrogen canister supplying the fuel to ensure low emissions and silent operation The onboard navigation panel helps guide adventurers by showing the path to the summit CORLEO projects illuminated markers onto the terrain ahead CORLEO combines the thrill of motorcycling with advanced robotics CORLEO responds to the rider’s weight shifts through sensors embedded in the stirrups and handlebars The height of the stirrups can also be adjusted to maintain ergonomic posture enhancing the tight connection between human and machine This ongoing exchange between the rider and the mobility system also creates a new kind of ride experience that is more instinctive this legged mobility platform maintains balance and stability each leg ends in a hoof made from slip-resistant rubber you can see CORLEO in action at the Expo 2025 Osaka brand: Kawasaki | @kawasaki_motors_japan The Hologic WTA Tour's clay swing is well and truly under way following the conclusion of the Mutua Madrid Open the fifth WTA 1000 tournament of the season The latest edition of the PIF WTA Rankings also includes two WTA 125 tournaments in Saint-Malo Aryna Sabalenka lifted the trophy for a third time following her victorious runs in 2021 and 2023 equaling Petra Kvitova's record number of Madrid titles 1 Sabalenka has now reached the final at six of eight tournaments played in 2025 and widens the gap between herself and World No 6-1 for her third straight win over the World No reaching her first final since the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh Japanese players have thrived over the past fortnight Moyuka Uchijima was Madrid's surprise package scoring the first three Top 25 wins of her career -- including a third-round upset of Pegula -- to make her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal Uchijima put together a 19-match winning streak (including the Madrid ITF W100 title) to break into the Top 100 she's cracked the Top 50 for the first time Following a first-round loss in Madrid to Lucia Bronzetti 1 Naomi Osaka dropped down to WTA 125 level for the first time in a decade in Saint-Malo Osaka -- who came from 4-1 down in the third set to defeat Diane Parry in the second round -- walked away with her first trophy since the 2021 Australian Open and the first of her career on clay at any level She returns to the Top 50 with a seven-place jump to No Photos: All the Top 100 breakthroughs of 2025 Aoi Ito, who has drawn attention for her unorthodox game style, opted to compete at home instead. The 20-year-old made the 2024 Osaka semifinals on her WTA debut, and was also the Canberra WTA 125 champion in January. Her semifinal run at the Tokyo ITF W100 two weeks ago has enabled her to break into the Top 100 for the first time, inching up one place to No. 100. Australian Open junior champion Wakana Sonobe caused a splash on her WTA debut in February by qualifying and reaching the second round of Abu Dhabi. The powerful 17-year-old collected her first pro title two weeks ago at the Tokyo ITF W100 and roars up 161 places from No. 448 to a new career high of No. 287. Three Ukrainians delivered career-best performances in Madrid. In nine previous appearances, Elina Svitolina won only three matches at the tournament -- none consecutively. She made up for lost time with a run to the semifinals, extending her winning streak to 11 following her Rouen title run three weeks ago and Billie Jean King Cup action the week before that. The 30-year-old is up three spots to No. 14, her highest ranking since October 2021. Marta Kostyuk made her second WTA 1000 quarterfinal of 2025 in Madrid with wins over Emma Raducanu and Veronika Kudermetova. Having dropped out of the Top 30 two weeks ago for the first time since March 2024, Kostyuk immediately rebounded with a nine-place jump to No. 27. Last October, Yuliia Starodubtseva broke into the Top 100 after reaching the Beijing quarterfinals as a qualifier -- only to lose 16 out of her next 19 matches, including all six at tour level. The 25-year-old ended her dry spell in style, once again as a qualifier at a WTA 1000 event. Starodubtseva made the last 16 in Madrid, notching her second Top 20 win over Liudmila Samsonova in the third round, and climbs 19 places to No. 80. Former No. 79 Dalma Galfi has been quietly putting together a hot streak at WTA 125 level. The 26-year-old -- a former junior No. 1 -- was runner-up in La Bisbal d'Empordà four weeks ago, then followed that with her first two WTA 125 titles in Antalya and Vic. After compiling a 14-1 record over the past month, Galfi rises 26 places to No. 95 this week, returning to the Top 100 for the first time since June 2023. Fellow Hungarian and former No. 50 Anna Bondar was also a title-winner last week, lifting the Wiesbaden ITF W100 trophy for the second time. The 27-year-old climbs 13 places to No. 89. Jasmine Paolini, +1 to No. 5: The Italian made the third round of Madrid, and returns to the Top 5 for the first time since February. Diana Shnaider, +2 to No. 11: Playing her second event with former No. 1 Dinara Safina as her coach, Shnaider won consecutive matches for the first time since January to reach the Madrid fourth round. The 20-year-old moves to a new career high. Anna Blinkova, +9 to No. 67: Blinkova qualified and reached the second round of Madrid, where she delivered a strong performance against eventual champion Sabalenka. Yuan Yue, +10 to No. 93: After losing 10 of her first 13 matches of the year and falling out of the Top 100 in March, former No. 36 Yuan ended her dry spell with a title run at the Oeiras ITF W100 two weeks ago -- her first career trophy at any level on clay. Mananchaya Sawangkaew, +8 to No. 105: The 22-year-old Thai player moves to a new career high after reaching the Gifu ITF W100 final last week. Rebeka Masarova, +41 to No. 112: Former No. 62 Masarova lost seven out of her first 10 matches of 2025, but has been resurgent over the past two months. Since March, the 25-year-old Swiss player has compiled a 16-5 record; in the last fortnight, she reached the Madrid third round as a qualifier then followed it by a run to the final at the Vic WTA 125. Iva Jovic, +21 to No. 120: The 17-year-old American claimed her first ITF W100 title in Charlottesville two weeks ago, and is lifted to a new career high. Zhang Shuai, +28 to No. 136: Former No. 22 Zhang won the Gifu ITF W100 last week, the 36-year-old's first singles title at any level since Lyon 2022. Astra Sharma, +47 to No. 154: Sharma, the 2021 Charleston 250 champion, thrived on green clay again over the last two weeks. The 29-year-old Australian reached the Charlottesville ITF W100 semifinals, then took the Bonita Springs ITF W100 title without dropping a set. Whitney Osuigwe, +21 to No. 158: Osuigwe's resurgence continued with a run to the Bonita Springs ITF W100 final last week. The 23-year-old American has compiled a 32-10 record in 2025 so far. Julia Grabher, +76 to No. 162: Grabher's comeback from wrist surgery has gathered serious momentum over the past month with a 21-match winning streak (excluding Billie Jean King Cup). The Austrian former No. 54 claimed her third consecutive ITF trophy two weeks ago at the Chiasso W75 before her streak was ended by Bondar in last week's Wiesbaden W100 final. Emerson Jones, +38 to No. 236: Junior No. 1 Jones reached the Gifu ITF W100 semifinals last week before falling to eventual champion Zhang in three sets. The Australian 16-year-old reaches a new career high. Harmony Tan, +39 to No. 244: Former No. 90 Tan claimed her first title in over a year at last week's Yecla ITF W50. Kaja Juvan, +159 to No. 356: After a 12-month break from competition in 2024, former No. 58 Juvan returned to action unranked in January. Last week, the Slovenian defeated Katie Volynets and Viktorija Golubic to reach the Saint-Malo WTA 125 final -- her first at any level since Strasbourg 2022. Alisa Oktiabreva, +124 to No. 447: Oktiabreva, 16, claimed her second ITF W35 title of the year in Leme, Brazil three weeks ago and breaks the Top 500 for the first time.  Teodora Kostovic, +101 to No. 524: Former junior No. 5 Kostovic reached the final qualifying round of both Abu Dhabi and Miami as a wild card this year. In Madrid, the 17-year-old Serb went one better, defeating Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Lucrezia Stefanini to make her first WTA main draw. Katarina Jokic, +513 to No. 595: University of Georgia alumna Jokic was sidelined for six months in 2024. Last week, she defeated Jovic and Laura Pigossi en route to the Bonita Springs ITF W100 semifinals. Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam championREUTERS / Edgar SuFour-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka won her first WTA title since triumphing at the 2021 Australian Open after beating Slovenia's Kaja Juvan 6-1, 7-5 in the final of the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo - a WTA 125 tournament.It was the 27-year-old Japanese player's first WTA title since she became a mother in July 2023 "Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst there’s always room to grow and evolve," Osaka posted on X Osaka struggled with her lack of power and accuracy as she failed to progress beyond the second round of any Grand Slam last year who reached the third round of the Australian Open in January is set to feature in the main draw of the French Open later this month The organizers of the ongoing Osaka Expo have broadly agreed to preserve part of the Grand Ring the iconic wooden structure at the expo venue The agreement was reached at a meeting Friday among the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition the Osaka prefectural and city governments and the business community They confirmed that a concrete plan will be decided during a meeting on June 23.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Proposals floated at Friday's meeting included one for keeping intact part of the 600-meter section on the ocean side of the ring which has a circumference of about 2 kilometers and another for preserving the structure nearly in its current condition based on an idea from the private sector to conserve a 200-meter section of the ring as a monument The parties concerned will also discuss how to share costs for preservation and who will be in charge of managing the preserved structure Hirofumi Yoshimura told reporters that he proposed the option of preserving part of the section on the ocean side "The ring should be partially preserved as a legacy (of the Osaka Expo)," he said In a survey conducted by the association for Expo visitors 86.4% of the respondents said they were "very much" or "somewhat" satisfied with the Grand Ring The survey result was reported to Friday's meeting "The design comes from Sou Fujimoto Architects who are renowned for their innovative and creative approach to architecture The Grand Ring serves as both an attraction and a functional space for visitors." "It was constructed using both modern techniques and Nuki joints which is a traditional Japanese method that's used to connect wood without using nails or screws Most of the wood used is local cypress and cedar "It has been officially certified as the world's largest wooden structure by the Guinness World Records and has a width of 30 m (98 ft) plus an outer edge diameter of roughly 675 m (2,214 ft) It encircles the Expo site and is topped by a walkway called the Sky Walk at a height of 12 m (40 ft) This is lined with a large amount of flowers and allows people to stroll on top and take in views of the many pavilions and of the surrounding area." "Construction of the Grand Ring began in June 2023 and was completed on Feb The project was led mainly by the construction firms Obayashi Corp. is 30 meters wide and has an outer diameter of around 675 meters "Built at a cost of 34.4 billion yen ($230 million) Discussions about its significance and whether it should be preserved or repurposed after the event are ongoing The ring was originally set to be dismantled and its materials repurposed after the expo closes on Oct redevelopment plans for the site now include preserving part of the structure." World's largest hand carved wooden chain: world record in Baxter Springs, Kansas World’s Largest Wooden Dome: world record in Marquette, Michigan World's Largest Wooden Yo-Yo: world record in Chico, California World’s Largest Wooden Nickel: Iowa City, Iowa sets world record World's tallest wooden church: Sapanta - Peri Monastery World’s Longest Wooden Roller Coaster, world record set in Mason, Ohio World’s Largest Wooden Gavel, world record set in Marshall, Illinois World's Largest Wooden Shoes, world record in Casey, Illinois World's Largest Wooden Baseball Bat: world record in Fargo, North Dakota World's Largest Wooden Bigfoot Sculpture, world record in Keystone, South Dakota World's Largest Pan Flute, world record set by Ştefan Popescu World's Largest Petrified Wood Park, world record in Lemmon, South Dakota World's First Upside Down House Theme Park, world record in Sibiu County, Romania UNITED STATES WORLD RECORDS This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka won her first WTA title since triumphing at the 2021 Australian Open after beating Slovenia's Kaja Juvan 6-1 7-5 in the final of the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo — a WTA 125 tournament on clay It was the 27-year-old Japanese player's first WTA title since she became a mother in July 2023 It was also her first-ever title on clay.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); "Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst That’s one of my favorite things about life though there’s always room to grow and evolve," Osaka posted on X Osaka struggled with her lack of power and accuracy as she failed to progress beyond the second round of any major last year who reached the third round of the Australian Open in January before retiring due to injury France (AP) — Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka claimed her first WTA title since triumphing at the 2021 Australian Open — and on her seemingly worst surface 7-5 Sunday to win L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo — a WTA 125 tournament — and secure her first-ever trophy on clay It was also the Japanese player's first WTA title since she became a mother in July 2023 "Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst," Osaka wrote on X "That's one of my favorite things about life though "Thanks to everyone accompanying me on this journey I know it's turbulent but it's also really fun and I'm grateful." Open crowns on hard courts but has a poor record at the French Open and pulled out of the clay-court tournament in 2021 before the second round to take a mental health break The 27-year-old's clay-court season had started with a loss in the first round of the Madrid Open last month AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis Throughout the 2024-25 SV.League women's volleyball season, Osaka Marvelous opposite Lise Van Hecke played an instrumental role in the team's success smashing the ball over the net for points on a consistent basis Marvelous fans will remember the totality of her team-leading 567 points But Van Hecke's title-clinching point in the SV.League Championship Finals will probably remain in their collective memory even longer Van Hecke delivered the final blow with a hard-hit spike at Ariake Arena on Saturday evening May 3 against the NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki as the Marvelous completed a sweep in the best-of-three series The thrill of victory was a recurring theme throughout Van Hecke's interactions with reporters after the match "I think it's always an amazing feeling when you win a title and to be the first in history it makes it only more beautiful," the Belgian star said it's the best way and I think we showed everyone we deserve to be the champion." grabbing momentum from the get-go in the opening set (an 8-0 lead) the Red Rockets captured their second consecutive title in the V.League (the SV.League's predecessor) Osaka's supremacy during the regular season (a league-best 37-7 record) maintained form in the playoffs After exchanging hugs and high-fives with her teammates after the match Tanaka shared her insights on what it took for the Marvelous to complete their title quest "This was a chance to get revenge for last year I'm happy that we were able to win the championship in two matches against them," the 29-year-old outside hitter who was named Finals MVP told reporters "So many people supported us and pushed us forward "We're glad that we were able to express that properly on the court what matters is how the spiker finishes the play when the ball is entrusted to them." In addition to its slight edge in attack points (47-33), Osaka owned an 8-3 advantage in blocks, led by Minowa with three. Ameze Miyabe and Haruka Oyama contributed two apiece Teamwork was a defining characteristic of the Marvelous' season "Everyone really did a great job today and I think how we prepared to come here I think my team really deserves it," she said "There's always a lot of ups and downs but I can see with the eyes of my teammates and how we work hard on the practice "I think serve was the key to break the attack of NEC They really have a lot of good attackers and by serving and giving pressure Strong serving did pay off for the Marvelous who had 73 attempts and only three service errors Marvelous head coach Daisuke Sakai credited his players for their cohesiveness in pursuit of success seeing the team perform like this today was the result I wanted," Sakai said "and I think it's something we need to build on and continue I'm grateful for everything that's been achieved so far and I'd like to thank the company as well." "It's important that we've been working on creating a system that allows the team to be more adaptable and responsive The players themselves have been implementing what we've practiced so it's a lot about improving and checking those details." the second set was an intense clash between Osaka and NEC faster than it takes to eat an ice cream cone Neither team could grab a decisive lead as they traded points in rapid succession But Osaka regained its edge and closed out the second set on a point by Oyama the Marvelous gained the upper hand and pulled away Van Hecke shattered the tie with a dynamic play at the net to make it 13-12 it was 20-13 and the Red Rockets' chances of extending the match to a fourth set appeared insurmountable Red Rockets head coach Takayuki Kaneko said his team had a better overall performance than it did on Friday but it wasn't enough to overcome the Marvelous after suffering such a frustrating and one-sided defeat we reflected thoroughly on what we needed to do and entered today's match with a clear mindset," Kaneko told reporters "I think there were moments when we were able to show our true style We'll take this to heart and move forward." NEC had a 30-14 record in the regular season Sato led the Red Rockets with 14 attack points Author: Ed Odeven You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Please log in and check your service registration status.To cancel your subscription 1) === '|') document.write("&#"+unescape(l[i].substring(1))+";");else document.write(unescape(l[i]));}