Naomi Osaka powered into the semi-finals of the WTA Canadian Open on Tuesday with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory over 10th seed Elina Svitolina, setting up a Wednesday showdown with Denmark’s Clara Tauson.
The four-time Grand Slam champion needed just 68 minutes to dispatch Svitolina, sealing her first WTA 1000 semi-final appearance since returning from maternity leave last year. Osaka is chasing her first tour-level title since winning the 2021 Australian Open and her first title of any kind as a mother.
“I’m just having a lot of fun playing. I’m glad to be here,” Osaka said. “I think I’ll be seeded in the US Open because I won my match. That was a really good goal for me. I’m just really excited.”
Tauson, the 16th seed, reached the last four with a stunning 6-1, 6-4 victory over reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys. The 22-year-old Dane, who also eliminated world No. 2 Iga Swiatek earlier in the tournament, dedicated her performance to her late grandfather, who passed away on Sunday.
“Two days ago, my grandfather unfortunately passed away so I really wanted to win for him today,” a tearful Tauson said. “I was told the day after I beat Iga, so I wanted to show my best tennis for him. Hopefully he’s watching.”
The Montreal event has seen an exodus of top seeds, with the top five and seven of the top 10 already ousted before the quarter-finals. Tauson’s victories over Swiatek and Keys mark the first time she has defeated two top-10 opponents at the same tournament.
Osaka and Tauson have met once before, in January’s Auckland Open final, when Osaka retired with injury after winning the first set. “She’s really tough,” Osaka said. “I’m really excited that I’m healthy this time.”
Osaka broke Svitolina for a 3-1 lead in the opening set and fended off late resistance to close it out in 38 minutes before cruising through the second. Tauson, meanwhile, dominated Keys by breaking twice in the first set and capitalising on a double fault to open the second. She never faced a break point in the final set and held at love to close out the match after 70 minutes.
Tauson is one win away from her second WTA 1000 final, having reached her first in Dubai earlier this year. She is seeking her fourth career WTA title, following wins at Lyon and Luxembourg in 2021 and Auckland earlier this year.
In the other semi-final, 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina will face 18-year-old Canadian rising star Victoria Mboko. Rybakina won their only previous meeting 6-3, 7-5 last month in Washington.
Written By Rodney Mbua
