Naomi Osaka teased the US Open organizers following her big day as the Japanese tennis star joked that "the mom was scheduled last" to play her match.
On Wednesday, a total of four matches were played on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alex de Minaur were the first on the court, while Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova followed. The third match saw an all-Italian battle between Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti.
After the three matches mentioned above finished, Osaka and Karolina Muchova started their match at 7:30 PM. And after an hour and 44 minutes of play, the Japanese former world No. 1 defeated 2023 and 2024 US Open semifinalist Muchova 6-4 7-6 (3) to make her first Grand Slam semis as a mother.
Osaka: The US Open the mom on last… I appreciate it
"Yeah, so they put the mom on last. That's crazy. So, yeah, you know, I'll probably tell you how much I appreciate it at the end of the tournament, which is hopefully on Saturday (day of the women's singles final) for me. But regardless, I'm just really grateful to be playing well in this city," the 2018 and 2020 US Open winner said.
Since launching her post-pregnancy comeback at the start of 2024, Osaka highlighted numerous times that she came back to make some noise at the Grand Slam level again. And after failing to do so last year and also not making any Slam second week this year, the four-time Major winner finally made a long targeted breakthrough at Flushing Meadows.
"I appreciate the journey a lot more now. I think when I was younger, I kind of just kept thinking of the next one, the next one, the next one," the 27-year-old noted.
For a place in the US Open final, Osaka will battle against Anisimova, who leads the head-to-head against the Japanese 2-0. Those two past meetings came at Melbourne Park and Roland Garros in 2022.
