September 04, (THEWILL) — Naomi Osaka has reached the US Open semi-finals following a commanding 6-4 7-6(3) victory over 11th seed Karolína Muchová at Flushing Meadows.
The four-time Grand Slam champion, who endured three challenging years away from tennis’s pinnacle, delivered her most convincing performance yet in her comeback campaign.
The match took place on Arthur Ashe Stadium before another capacity crowd, with Osaka demonstrating the power game that once made her world number one.
Muchová’s performance was severely hampered by a left thigh injury that required medical treatment between sets.
The Czech player returned to court with heavy strapping around her leg, struggling to change direction and push into shots effectively.
Despite her physical limitations, Muchová managed to break Osaka’s serve early in the second set and forced the frame into a tiebreak through tactical variations including lobs, drop shots, and corner placement.
Osaka’s current form represents a significant evolution from her previous playing style. Working under coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, who previously guided Iga Świątek to four Grand Slam titles, the Japanese star has developed improved court movement to complement her baseline power.
This enhanced mobility allows her to adapt to modern tennis demands whilst maintaining her ability to dictate points from behind the baseline.
The victory continues a remarkable statistical trend for Osaka, who has won every Grand Slam tournament where she has reached the quarter-finals.
Her path back to prominence began nearly two years ago but accelerated dramatically in recent weeks.
The 26-year-old admitted that returning from childbirth presented unexpected challenges, including an emotional defeat to teenager Victoria Mboko in Canada during August.
Osaka now faces her first Grand Slam semi-final since the 2021 Australian Open.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
