NEW YORK, Sep 4 (Kyodo/APP): Japan’s four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka maintained her formidable track record in the later stages of major tournaments by advancing to the U.S. Open semifinals with a 6-4, 7-6(3) victory over Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
Although she had not played in a Grand Slam quarterfinal since her 2021 Australian Open victory, Osaka has never lost in the final eight of a major and will try to keep that streak alive against eighth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals.
The former world No. 1, who dominated U.S. star Coco Gauff to reach the quarterfinals, has fueled hopes of adding to her 2018 and 2020 titles at Flushing Meadows and winning her first tournament since taking time off for the birth of her daughter.
Playing with a heavily strapped upper leg, the 11th-seeded Muchova compensated for her limited movement at Arthur Ashe Stadium with court-smarts and finesse.
Osaka’s power and precision ultimately won out, however. In a tightly contested opening set, both players held serve through nine games before Osaka forced Muchova into a succession of uncharacteristic errors to claim the break and the set.
The Japanese No. 23 seed went down 5-4 in the second set after conceding her second break of the match, but with Muchova serving for the set, Osaka rattled off a love game to break back.
The 27-year-old former champion went on to seal the match with a rock-solid display in the tiebreaker.
“It was an incredibly difficult match,” Osaka said in her on-court interview. “She’s one of the best players in the world and every time I play her, it’s so, so difficult.”
Asked about her winning mentality late in Grand Slams, Osaka compared her approach to a boxer in the ring.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been in this position, but I think you play the best players in the world towards the end of a Slam and we all are hoping to achieve the same thing, so it’s kind of like boxing, with a tennis ball,” she said.
The Japanese star, who has struggled with injuries as well as depression and anxiety, said she was grateful to be competing again with the world’s best after her time away from the court.
“I was sitting up there (as a spectator in the stands) and hoping I’d have the opportunity to play on this court again, so it feels like my dream is coming true,” she said.
“It means so much, I’m actually surprised I’m not crying. There’s been so much hard work that you guys haven’t seen. I’m just really grateful to my team and happy to be healthy.”