Naomi Osaka is back in the US Open semifinals for the first time since the birth of her daughter, Shai, after a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6 victory over 11th seed Karolina Muchova at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The two-time champion, who watched from the stands two years ago, showed resilience to overcome a spirited challenge from the Czech in just under two hours.
Osaka, a former world No 1, now faces Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova in Thursday's semifinal. The Japanese star has a perfect record in grand slam quarterfinals, having won all four she has contested. Her game has been sharp throughout the tournament, combining powerful groundstrokes with improved movement and patience in rallies.
Muchova struggled with a leg injury after the first set, requiring a medical timeout. Despite the setback, she broke Osaka early in the second set and used her net skills to build a 4-3 lead. Osaka fought back, breaking to level at 5-5 before dominating the tiebreak 7-2. “I just tried to play every point like it was the last point of the match,” Osaka said.
The victory was an emotional one for Osaka, who looked to her mother, Tamaki, in the stands after the match. “I’m surprised I’m not crying,” she said. “I was sitting up there watching and hoping I could have the opportunity to play on this court again. This is like my dream is coming true.”
