Naomi Osaka beat Alycia Parks 6-4 6-1 in the semifinal of the ASB Classic in Auckland to book her spot in her first final since she finished runner-up to Iga Swiatek at the 2022 Miami Open.
Parks went up a 3-1 lead, but Osaka reeled off four consecutive games to take a 5-3 lead. Parks fired an ace to hold serve for 4-5 and earned two break points in the next game, but Osaka saved them to close out the first set 6-4.
Osaka went down 0-40 as she was serving for the match at 5-2 and faced three break points, but she saved them to hold serve with a backhand.
Osaka has reached her first final since her come-back from maternity leave. The Japanese player is just one match away from winning her first title since she clinched her fourth Grand Slam title at the 2021 Australian Open.
Parks was playing her first WTA Tour semifinal since she won her first title in Lyon in 2023. She played two matches on Saturday, winning a rain-delayed quarter final indoors beating Katie Volynets 6-1 6-4.
“I was just trying to survive. Parks was hitting some amazing shots, and I just kept thinking to myself. Give her more ball to play, try to get lucky. I know there was net cord ball that I really needed, so I am really sorry to her, but I needed that”,said Osaka.
Osaka set up a final match against former Junior world number 1 Clara Tauson, who has reached her first final since 2021. The Danish player first beat Madison Keys 6-4 7-6 (9-7) in a rain-delayed quarter final. This match had been postponed due to rain, as Tauson was leading 6-4 3-4. Tauson then beat first-time semifinalist Robin Montgomery 6-4 6-3 in Saurday’s semifinal. Tauson converted four of her fourteen break points.
Osaka will meet Tauson for the first time in her career.
“I really worked hard to get to this level again after many injuries. Robin is a great player and we had a great match today. I am just happy that I kept my cool and won it today. It’s been some years since I have been in a final like this. I am just going to try to enjoy it as much as I can”, said Tauson.
