Washington, April 1 (US): Naomi Osaka’s eyes watered when the match ended, a sight all too familiar to her in recent years.
This was from a happy lineup. For the former World No. 1, that’s a major advance, according to the Associated Press.
Unseeded Osaka defeated 22nd seed Belinda Bencic 4-6 6-3 6-4 on Thursday in the semifinals of the Miami Open. Playing the championship match for the first time since the 2021 Australian Open, second seed Iga Swiatek will meet for the title on Saturday.
Maybe not even almost. She hid her face with an orange towel several times after the last point, evidently at least one tear making its way to her right cheek.
Osaka entered this tournament at number 77 in the world, leaving Miami no worse than number 36 and will return to the top 30 if she wins the title.
It’s been a long, trying and often emotional journey for Osaka since her 2018 US Open final win over Serena Williams.
She was horrified during the loss to Indian Wells on March 12 after an insulting yell from a spectator, and withdrew from last year’s French Open to address her mental state and left last year’s US Open in tears.
But in South Florida, one of the places she calls home, all the support has been from fans.
Swatik – who will replace now-retired Ashleigh Barty as the world’s number one ranked women’s player next week – beat Pegula 6-2 7-5 in the women’s semifinal on Thursday night.
insult