In a performance that echoed her championship pedigree, Naomi Osaka is once again a US Open semifinalist. The 23rd-seeded Japanese star delivered a masterclass under the New York lights on Wednesday night, defeating the 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-6(3) to advance.
This victory marks a powerful and emotional return to the final four at Flushing Meadows for the first time since she clinched the title there in 2020. For more on the latest US Open updates and player news, visit our tennis coverage.
A Flawless Record in Grand Slam Quarterfinals
With this win, Osaka maintains a perfect, remarkable record: she is now 5-0 in major quarterfinals. Significantly, all of these matches have been played on hard courts. This statistic underscores a dominant trend in her career: every single time Osaka has advanced to the quarterfinal stage of a Grand Slam, she has gone on to win the entire tournament.
Her previous titles came at:
- The US Open in 2018 and 2020
- The Australian Open in 2019 and 2021
Her triumph in Melbourne in 2021 was the last time she had even reached the fourth round of a major until this year’s inspiring US Open run.
The Triumphant Return of a Champion and Mother
This deep tournament run is the latest chapter in Naomi Osaka’s compelling Grand Slam comeback. It is her first time being seeded at a major since giving birth to her daughter, Shai, in July 2023. After a 17-month maternity leave, Osaka has been steadily rebuilding her game and is now playing her most confident tennis since returning to the tour, as detailed in our article on athletes returning from maternity leave.
Her form has been devastatingly good. In the previous round, she delivered a statement win by cruising past No. 3 seed Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2. For the entire tournament, she has surrendered just a single set, proving her elite level of play is fully back.
An emotional Osaka reflected on the significance of the moment in her on-court interview. “It means so much. I’m actually surprised I’m not crying,” she said. “It’s been so much hard work that you guys haven’t seen. I’m just grateful to my team and happy to be healthy.”
Next Challenge: A Rematch Against Amanda Anisimova
The path to the final won’t be easy. Osaka’s next opponent is No. 8 seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States. In a stunning upset earlier on Wednesday, Anisimova took down world No. 2 and six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Świątek.
The matchup is a fascinating tale of resilience. Less than two months ago, Anisimova suffered a brutal 6-0, 6-0 loss to Świątek in the Wimbledon final. Her ability to bounce back and secure this victory sets the stage for a thrilling semi final clash. According to a report by ESPN, Anisimova’s win over Świątek was one of the biggest surprises of the tournament.
As the excitement builds in New York, all eyes will be on Osaka to see if she can continue her perfect streak and add another incredible chapter to her legendary career.