NEW YORK — Four years after her last triumph on these grounds, Naomi Osaka is back in a familiar, formidable position.
The former world No. 1, who has navigated a challenging return to the sport following the birth of her daughter, Shai, advanced to the US Open semifinals with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory over 27th seed Karolina Muchova on Tuesday.
In an on-court interview brimming with emotion, Osaka reflected on her journey back to the sport's pinnacle. "I'm just taking it one day at a time," she said. "I feel like the last couple years I played, I was too worried about results and the ranking stuff. Now I’m just really happy to be on the court."
Her performance against the talented Czech was a masterclass in controlled aggression. Osaka’s serve, one of the most potent weapons in the women's game, was firing on all cylinders, and she consistently dictated play from the baseline with her powerful groundstrokes.
A Dominant Display
The match began with Osaka in imperious form, breaking Muchova’s serve twice to race to a 5-0 lead in the opening set. She wrapped up the first set in a blistering 30 minutes, having lost just one game. The sheer pace and precision of her shots left Muchova, a 2023 French Open finalist, with few answers.
The second set proved more competitive as Muchova found her range and began to employ her signature variety, including deft drop shots and slices. She secured an early break, but Osaka’s response was immediate and emphatic, breaking back at love to level the set at 2-2 and never relinquishing her momentum.
Osaka sealed the victory on her first match point with a thunderous ace, her seventh of the contest, a fitting conclusion to a performance that announced her Grand Slam credentials are fully restored.
The Road Back to the Top
Osaka’s return to the semifinals is the culmination of a year dedicated to rebuilding her game and confidence. Since returning from maternity leave in January, she has spoken openly about her evolved perspective, prioritizing her mental health and the joy of competition over external pressures.
Her path in New York has been particularly impressive, featuring victories over:
- 19th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in a tough third-round battle
- 13th seed Jasmine Paolini, this year's French Open champion
- 27th seed Karolina Muchova, a proven giant-killer on the big stage
This run echoes her previous successes at Flushing Meadows, where she captured the title in 2018 and 2020. Each victory has seemed to layer confidence upon confidence, the powerful ball-striking that defines her game becoming more consistent with each round.
A Dream Realized in Real Time
In her post-match press conference, Osaka expanded on her emotional state, revealing a profound sense of fulfillment. "It feels like my dream is coming true again," she stated. "I think to have that feeling again, it's really sweet. I'm just really grateful and thankful to everyone that's been supporting me, because I've been in a really dark place the last couple years."
She also credited her daughter as a primary source of motivation and a catalyst for her renewed outlook. "I want to show Shai that she's capable of everything, so that's one of my main purposes here," Osaka said. "I kind of think that if I'm not doing that, I'm not setting a good example for her."
Looking Ahead: A Semifinal Showdown
Osaka’s next challenge is a blockbuster semifinal against top-ranked Iga Świątek of Poland or Croatian 20th seed Donna Vekic. A potential clash with Świątek, a four-time major champion, would be a titanic battle between two of the game's heaviest hitters and a rematch of their dramatic 2022 Miami Open final.
Regardless of the opponent, Osaka enters the final four with the knowledge that her best tennis is more than enough to compete for a third US Open crown. Her serve is a constant threat, and her aggressive returning has put every opponent immediately on the back foot.
The tennis world is now watching, witnessing the resurgence of a champion who has conquered the sport's biggest stages before. As she herself acknowledged, the dream is very much alive. "I'm just embracing every moment," Osaka said, a smile breaking through. "This is what I worked for."
Her journey from new mother to US Open semifinalist is a powerful narrative of resilience and rediscovery. With the New York crowd firmly behind her, Naomi Osaka is not just back; she is playing with a purpose and a power that suggests her dream is far from finished.