Naomi Osaka reached her first semifinal since 2022 on Friday when she defeated Hailey Baptiste in the quarterfinals of the Auckland tournamenta tournament in preparation for the Australian Open, which he won twice.
The Japanese, 27 years old and winner of four Grand Slams, He defeated the 23-year-old American in three sets 6-7 (2/7), 6-1 and 6-2.
For the first time since April 2022, at the Miami Open, Osaka reached the semifinals of a tournament. She has since taken a 15-month break from tennis to give birth to her son Shai in July 2023, before returning to the court in January 2024.
“The main goal now is to believe in myself and have confidence in myself. I put in a lot of effort last year, even though the results didn’t show it, and I keep doing my best to see where it takes me,” explained Osaka, world number 57.
As in his first two matches in Auckland, the Japanese lacked rhythm in the first set. He then relied on an effective serve, with nine aces.
Hailey Baptiste, world number 92, was treated for an ankle injury in the second set.
Osaka will face an American in the semifinalseither Katie Volynets or Alycia Parks.
Source: La Verdad
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