Naomi Osaka is through to the last four of a WTA event for the first time in almost three years after beating Hailey Baptiste at the ASB Classic in Auckland.
The former world No.1 bounced back from a set down to win 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-2, in what was a rain-interrupted match. It is the first time Osaka has reached the semi-finals of a Tour event since finishing runner-up at the 2022 Miami Open. Since then, she has taken almost a year out of the sport to give birth to her first child before returning to action at the start of last season.
“I think the key focuses that I had were just to have a lot of belief and confidence in myself,” wtatennis.com quoted Osaka as saying. “I think I put a lot of work in throughout last year, and even though the results didn’t show it, I think I’m just continuing to, I guess, try as hard as I can and see where it gets me.”
During her latest match, Osaka broke her opponent six times and won 73% of her first service points. She also produced 10 aces with one of those setting her up with a match point.
During the closing stages, world No.92 Baptiste was physically struggling on the court. She underwent treatment on both of her feet at the end of the second set which might have been to treat blisters. Baptiste played for almost three hours in her previous match against Great Britain’s Jodie Burrage.
“[Baptiste is] an amazing player,” Osaka commented. “It sucks that she was injured, but I think we played a really high-quality match, and in a weird way I’m glad to have played a three-set match because I think that’s kind of the experience I need.”
Osaka will next play either eighth seed Katie Volynets or Alycia Parks for a place in the final. She is bidding to win her first title of any sort since the 2021 Australian Open.
