Osaka Advances to Semifinals at the Canadian National Open
Tennis player Naomi Osaka demonstrated her power by advancing to the semifinals of the Canadian National Open, after defeating Elina Svitolina with a score of 6-2, 6-2. This triumph marks a milestone for Osaka, who is seeking her best performance in a WTA 1000 tournament since reaching the final in Miami in 2022. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam winner and former world number one, will face Clara Tauson in the next round. Tauson secured her place in the semifinals after defeating Madison Keys with a score of 6-1, 6-4. This tournament represents a remarkable performance for Osaka, who returned to the circuit after a 15-month break and the birth of her daughter, Shai, in July 2023. The Japanese player is seeking her eighth professional title, her first since the Australian Open in 2021. In the other semifinal, Victoria Mboko, a young Canadian prospect, will face Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan. Mboko, who is participating in the main draw of the National Open for the first time, will rise to the top 50 of the WTA after starting the year outside the top 300. The 18-year-old tennis player, originally from Toronto, has defeated five higher-ranked opponents to reach the semifinals, including Coco Gauff in the fourth round. Clara Tauson dedicated her victory to her grandfather, Peter, who passed away two days earlier, in an emotional interview on the court of the IGA Stadium.Tauson revealed that she learned of her grandfather’s passing on Monday, a day after eliminating Iga Swiatek, Wimbledon champion and world number 3, with a score of 7-6 (1), 6-3. The 22-year-old Danish tennis player highlighted her grandfather’s unconditional support throughout her career. In the match against Keys, Tauson didn’t concede any sets. Keys failed to convert two break opportunities in the first game, and after holding serve, Tauson won the next five games to take the first set.I really wanted to win for him today. I wanted to go out here and show my best tennis for him, and I hope he’s watching.
Clara Tauson
It wasn’t my best performance today. She played incredibly tonight. She played incredibly well, served very well. It was one of those things where I felt like I kept trying different things, and she was just beating me.
Madison Keys
