Naomi Osaka reached her first WTA semifinal since 2022 with a comeback win over American Hailey Baptiste, 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-2, at the ASB Classic in Auckland.
Osaka hit 10 aces and cracked 22 winners as she battled past 92nd-ranked Baptiste, who struggled with an injury down the stretch and went quietly.
“It sucks that she was injured, but I think that we played a really high quality match and I’m in a weird way glad that I played a three-set match because I think that is the kind of experience that I need,” Osaka said.
Osaka’s last semifinal came during her runner-up finish at the Miami Open in 2022. Since then she has become a mom and is in the process of working her way back into elite form.
"I think I put a lot of work in throughout last year, and even though the results didn’t show it, I think I'm just continuing to, I guess, try as hard as I can and see where it gets me,” she said.
Osaka will face either Katie Volynets or Alycia Parks in the semifinals
Madison Keys and Clara Tauson had their quarterfinal suspended due to rain and will have to complete it before the semifinals on Saturday in Auckland.
American Robin Montgomery will face the winner of that tilt. The American defeated Bernarda Pera 6-4 6-4 in the first quarterfinal of Friday.