(September 3, 2025) FLUSHING, NY – Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka has returned to the final four in New York with a 6-4, 7-6 win over No. 11 Karolina Muchova of Czechia.
For the 23rd seed, she makes a return to the semifinals in New York for the first time since 2020, when she last won the title.
Both women played steady tennis until the tenth game of the first set, when Muchova got behind on her serve 0-40, and the woman from Japan took advantage on her second break point to give her the first set 6-4.
In between the first and second sets, Muchova took a medical time out off court, and when she returned, she had her left thigh wrapped. Her movement appeared a little hampered upon her return.
Muchova broke serve to open the second set, but Osaka returned the favor to level the set 1-1. In the ninth game, Muchova broke Osaka’s serve for a 5-4 lead and a chance to serve for the set. Osaka made Muchova run from side to side, causing her to make a few errors, and Osaka broke back at love to level the set at 5-5. Osaka had to fight off break points in the next game to hold for 6-5. Muchova held for 6-6 to force a tiebreak.
In the tiebreak, Osaka took a 5-2 lead and won it 7-3 to close out the match.
“Tiebreaker was kind of, eh,” Osaka said. “I feel like I understand what you are trying to say. Like, in the past maybe I got distracted and I could maybe pull it in on the third set, but I think, you know, now I would say I’m definitely a lot more focused and kind of aware of point structure and also, like, how important it is to try and conserve energy if you can.
“I’m definitely trying to hone in a lot more.”
“It was a very, very tough match,” Muchova said. “I think Naomi played really well, especially in the key moments. We had some close games that could go either way, but on her serve, she usually served pretty well.”
“Yeah, tough battle.”
“Definitely, it was a really tough match I think for me,” Osaka said. “Honestly, I was just trying to hang in there and see if I got an opportunity.”
With the win, she’ll next face Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals for a spot in the final.
“She’s always been one of the most talented players on tour,” Osaka said of her next opponent. “I think no one wants to see her name next to theirs, especially with what she would potentially do.
“I think she’s one of the players where you don’t know where she’s going to hit the ball kind of thing. I honestly didn’t watch the Wimbledon final. Obviously I saw the scoreline, and I saw how devastated she must be, but I think to play Iga here now and to win it on home soil is something that is a really big achievement, and credit to her.
“Yeah, I think the match is going to be really tough tomorrow.”
“What am I satisfied with today’s match?
“I think my mentality. I think there was a lot of moments where she broke me or she was really close to getting a really crucial moment or point, and I just tried to play every point like it was the last point of the match.
“Thankfully it worked out. If I needed to improve something, honestly, if I’m looking forward to my next match against Amanda, probably my second serve, because I think she has the best return on tour, so…
“I have different feelings for all matches. Honestly, I was the most nervous for my first-round match and my match against Kasatkina. I don’t know why. I just was. But I think for me it’s very strange, the deeper I go in a tournament, the less nervous I become, unless it’s a final, potentially. I don’t know. I haven’t been there in a while. Just because I know, like, I have to give it my best shot, and these players are winning for a reason, so…
“Yeah, I mean, I think she has the ability to hit winners, come to the net, hit really hard. She has probably all of the shots in the book, and I think for me the thought that I had when I was playing was obviously I don’t have as much variety as her, but I know that my pace is pretty solid, and I am probably not going to miss if I don’t want to.
“Yeah, I just had the game plan of being solid from the baseline, and if I had my opportunity, hit a little bit slower or hit a little bit faster and catch her off guard.”
Osaka’s run at the US Open will push her ranking up into the top 20.
More to follow…..
