Naomi Osaka lifts first title in four years after digging out fans

was crowned the champion of the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo in France on Sunday, earning a convincing 6-1 7-5 victory over Kaja Juvan in the final. It's the first clay title she's won in her career at any level, and the first trophy she has lifted since the 2021 Australian Open.

Osaka's victory comes after she received backlash for digging out fans in a pointed social media post. The former world No. 1 took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share a job application form for those who "constantly had s*** to say", and her followers weren't happy.

The 27-year-old posted the controversial tweet on Saturday evening after booking her spot in the Saint Malo final. But fans thought she missed the mark, pointing out her status as a millionaire athlete.

"Mind you, you've never filled out one of these in your life........watch your multimillionaire tone," one wrote.

Another added: "You're literally in a final and have been winning all week slowly starting to get your level back. Why are you worried about what people say?"

Osaka let her tennis do the talking on Sunday, ousting former top-60 star Juvan in an hour and 23 minutes to clinch her first trophy in more than four years.

The four-time Major winner made a last-minute decision to drop down to the WTA 125 circuit - equivalent to the ATP Challenger Tour - after a heartbreaking early exit in Madrid last week, .

It's the first time she has played a WTA 125 tournament since November 2015. And it paid off as she won five matches in a row to clinch the title.

Osaka will now return to the world's top 50 when the rankings update on Monday. After lifting the title, she tweeted: "Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst.

"That's one of my favourite 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 I'm grateful."

The former world No. 1 will attempt to carry her form into next week's Italian Open, a WTA 1000 event where she is a former quarter-finalist.

Osaka started the clay season with a three-set defeat to Lucia Bronzetti in Madrid and shared an emotional post on Threads.

"I wouldn't wish what goes on in my brain to my worst enemy," she wrote. But a day later, she said she was "done with [her] crashout" and decided to head to Saint-Malo.

The current world No. 55 has made it no secret that she wants to improve on the clay and grass this season. She previously told CNN she by winning the French Open and Wimbledon.

And she has already taken a huge step by winning her first clay title.