Naomi Osaka has made her first WTA final in three years and she is a win away from lifting her first title as a mom.
On Saturday, the seventh-seeded Japanese ousted world No. 82 Alycia Parks 6-4 6-2 in the semifinal of the WTA 250 tournament in Auckland.
On paper, it looks like a routine straight-set win – but the truth is that there were chances on both sides – and the difference was that the former world No. 1 came up bigger in the key moments.
During the match, Osaka converted 4-of-6 of her break point chances and saved 9-of-10 of the break points she faced.
Naomi Osaka© ASB Classic/Instagram – Fair Use
On Sunday, the four-time Grand Slam champion will battle against No. 5 seed Clara Tauson for the Auckland title.
The 27-year-old Japanese and the 22-year-old Dane have no previous meetings.
How Osaka beat Parks and what she said afterward?
Parks started the match with an early 3-1 lead but the No. 7 seed quickly responded by winning the next four games and going 5-3 up before serving out for the opener in the 10th game.
Up by a set, the Japanese went on to complete her win in two sets after clinching second-set breaks in the first and fifth games.
In her on-court interview, Osaka was asked how much it meant to make her first WTA final as a mom in Auckland.
“It was definitely really important. I’m happy to get through to the final. I’ve actually never gotten to the final of a tournament the week before Melbourne. This is a career first for me,” the 27-year-old said.
“I think in my head I’m really happy there are always things to improve and get better, no matter how old you are.”
If the Japanese beats Tauson in the Auckland final, she will win her first title since the 2021 Australian Open.
Tennis World USA