Naomi Osaka was close to finding herself in a three-set Montreal battle versus Clara Tauson but came up big when it mattered the most and got the job done in two sets 6-2 7-6 (7) to reach her biggest final since starting her post-pregnancy comeback.
Playing in her first WTA 1000 semifinal since 2022, the Japanese tennis star claimed two breaks to routinely bag the opener.
In the second set, Osaka was twice up by a break but twice allowed Tauson to get the break back and the set ultimately had to be resolved in a tie-break. There, the 16th-seeded Dane had two consecutive set points at 6-4 and appeared to be on the verge of sending the match into a decider. However, the former world No. 1 didn't quit as she saved both set points before realizing her second match point to seal a two-set victory.
In the Montreal final, Osaka will play against rising star Victoria Mboko, who beat a Grand Slam champion for the third time in Montreal after overcoming Elena Rybakina. The Japanese and the 18-year-old Canadian have no previous meetings.
Osaka's reaction to reaching the Montreal final
"I mean, definitely really happy. Yeah, just kind of sleepy now. That's all I can think of, but excited to play my first hard court final back," the current world No. 49 said after making her first final at the Canadian Open.
When asked what happened in the second set when she twice blew breaks before coming up big in the tie-break, Osaka said: "Life, I don't know (laughing). I mean, she's a great player, and I feel like if I give her, like, a little look at something, but also I think I was playing well. She just is a really good returner, so it's a lot of pressure to keep holding serve."
