‘Really happy’ Naomi Osaka into first final since 2022 ahead of Australian Open
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Japan's Naomi Osaka hits a return to USA's Alycia Parks during their semi-final match at the WTA Auckland Classic.
PHOTO: AFP
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AUCKLAND – Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka believes she has room for improvement, after reaching her first final since 2022 as she swept aside unseeded American Alycia Parks at the Auckland Classic on Jan 4.
The four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan won 6-4, 6-2 in another confidence boost ahead of the Australian Open starting on Jan 12 in Melbourne.
Osaka was contesting her first semi-final since 2022, having taken a break from tennis and becoming a mother in 2023. She returned to the sport a year ago.
The 27-year-old showed no sign of the nerves that had marked her first three wins in Auckland, producing a clinical performance to set up a final on Jan 5 against Clara Tauson of Denmark.
“Of course, I’m really happy to get to the final here, I’ve actually never got to a final a week before Melbourne, so this is like a career first for me,” said Osaka, a two-time Australian Open champion who is now ranked 57th.
“In my head, I’m really happy. But there’s always constantly things to improve to get better, no matter how old you are.”
Osaka’s power and precision proved too much for the 78th-ranked Parks. The American faded in what was her second match of the day, having had her quarter-final pushed back by rain on Jan 3.
Osaka’s four wins this week have come against opponents ranked below her at a tournament lacking a strong field.
That will change in the final against 50th-ranked Tauson, who beat unseeded American Robin Montgomery 6-4, 6-3 in the other semi-final.
Elsewhere at the Brisbane International, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka battled past 16th-ranked Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 6-2 to reach the final on Jan 5.
It was her third win in four career meetings against the 17-year-old – Sabalenka lost in the French Open quarter-finals last season in what was a shock defeat.
She had praise for her young opponent after her victory.
“She’s doing the right things. She has a great team around her, family around her, amazing coach,” the Belarusian said. “She’s on the right path and definitely the future of tennis. She’s gonna be there very soon.”
Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open winner and a three-time Grand Slam champion, will bid for her 18th career title against Polina Kudermetova.
In Sydney, five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek beat Elena Rybakina in straight sets to take Poland into the final of the mixed-team United Cup with a 3-0 victory over Kazakhstan.
The 2024 runners-up will meet an American team led by Coco Gauff on Jan 5 for the title. The US beat the Czech Republic 3-0.
“This win makes me really proud,” Swiatek said, after seeing off Rybakina 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 to give Poland an unassailable 2-0 lead in the tie. “It is perfect preparation for the Australian Open.”
Hubert Hurkacz had put the Poles on the way when he beat Alexander Shevchenko 6-3, 6-2 in the men’s singles. AFP, REUTERS
