Osaka downs Muchova to reach US Open semis

NEW YORK, United States — Naomi Osaka surged back to the semifinals of the US Open with a straight-sets defeat of Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova.

The Japanese 23rd seed, enjoying her deepest run in a Grand Slam since winning the Australian Open in 2021, held her nerve to defeat Muchova, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), in just under two hours.

Two-time US Open champion Osaka will now face eighth seed Amanda Anisimova in Thursday's semifinals (Friday Manila time), and will head into that showdown brimming with confidence after another polished performance.

Osaka, who eliminated third seed Coco Gauff in the last 16, has beaten three higher-ranked opponents on her journey to the last four and has shown flashes of the class that earned her four Grand Slam singles titles before she paused her career in 2023 due to the birth of her daughter.

"It was an incredibly difficult match," Osaka said after her victory on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court. "She's one of the best players in the world. Every time I play her it's incredibly difficult," the 2018 and 2020 US Open champion added.

Osaka, 27, said during her hiatus from tennis she had dreamed of returning to the elite stage.

"I'm just really grateful to be here. Honestly I was sitting up there and watching and hoping I would have the opportunity to play on this court again. My dream is coming true.

"It means so much. I'm surprised I'm not crying."

With Osaka and Muchova both serving smoothly, break point opportunities were few and far between in a high-quality first set.

Muchova had a lone break point chance in the opening game, but Osaka rattled off three straight points as the Czech's chance went begging.

The breakthrough came in the 10th game, when Muchova yanked a wild forehand way wide of the tramlines to hand Osaka three set points at 0-40.

Muchova saved the first but Osaka converted the second to take a one set to love lead.

The start of the second set was delayed as Muchova took a medical timeout and she returned with her left thigh heavily strapped.

There was no immediate sign of the injury bothering Muchova, though, and she opened with a break to go 1-0 up.

Osaka shrugged off that setback to break back immediately, and once again the match followed the pattern of the first set with break opportunities at a premium.

Muchova looked to have made the breakthrough when she broke for a 5-4 lead to leave her serving for the set.

Yet Osaka responded by breaking the Czech to love, ultimately leading to a tie-break that she dominated to seal victory.