Naomi Osaka has reached her first semi-final at Flushing Meadows since winning the title in 2021, defeating an injured Karolína Muchová 6-4, 7-6(3).
Muchová, who had played four three-set matches to reach the quarter-final, was clearly struggling with a lower back/thigh issue, and her change to aggressive attacking play in the second set visibly rattled Osaka, who was unable to get into a consistent rhythm as the prospect of a last-four place drew closer.
The four-time Slam winner upped her serving towards the end and was able to take the tie-break with minimum fuss. She spoke about the match afterward in her on-court interview.
“It was an incredibly difficult match, She’s one of the best players in the world and every time I play her it’s so, so difficult….I’m just really grateful to be here….my dream is coming through so thank you.”
“There’s been so much hard work that you guys haven’t seen. I’m just really grateful to my team and I’m just happy to be healthy. Hopefully you guys come and watch my next round.”
The first set began evenly, with both players holding serve as they searched for rhythm and range. Though Osaka had to fend off an early break point, she and Muchová were serving and moving with confidence, each waiting for the moment to land a telling blow.
Midway through the set, Muchová began to feel her upper leg, moving tentatively between points, though it didn’t seem to trouble her during the rallies. The normally lively New York crowd was unusually subdued for a night session, as if waiting for a spark to ignite both them and the match.
At 5-4, with Muchová serving to stay in the set, the spark finally arrived. As the Czech’s service level dipped, Osaka pounced on second serves and forced a couple of wild errors to earn three set points. She converted on the second when Muchová came to the net but misjudged a sliced volley, sending it wide to hand Osaka the set.
Muchová left the court for a medical timeout to address the injury issue, and when she returned eight minutes later to begin the second set, her upper left leg was heavily strapped.
With her movement hampered by the injury, Muchová looked to shorten the points, striking aggressively. With the medical timeout seeming to disrupt Osaka’s rhythm, she gave the Czech too many looks at second serves, and the 11th seed’s clean hitting earned her a break at the second attempt.
At 2-1 up with her opponent clearly struggling, Osaka became tentative on the return, allowing Muchová to hold comfortably to 15. She responded, though, winning her service game, capping it with a brilliant passing shot past Muchová at the net to edge ahead once more.
At 4-4, Osaka was losing her composure as Muchová clearly decided to go all or nothing. Osaka sprayed errors and gave the break to the ailing Czech, whose hitting belied her obvious discomfort. With the crowd in full voice as Muchová served for the set, Osaka lifted her level and earned three break-back points, taking the game at the first attempt after Muchová sent a forehand wide.
With Muchová timing the ball so well, Osaka found herself in trouble again on serve, but after saving two break points she produced two great serves to hold the game, letting out a roar of relief as she stood one game from the semis.
Muchová was not giving up though, and served impeccably to earn the tie-break her play deserved. When the tie-break came, though, she has no luck, with Osaka twice brushing the line to win points, and Muchová missing a forehand by 1mm to go 4-2 down. Osaka took the luck – and the next point – to earn four chances to close out the match. She converted on her second attempt, as Muchová sent a ball long after a bruising backhand rally.
Osaka will face American No.8 seed Amanda Anisimova in her semi-final.
