Osaka’s emotional US Open comeback reaches new heights with hard-fought win over Muchova
Naomi Osaka returned to the US Open semifinals with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6(3) win over Karolina Muchova, continuing her remarkable comeback to the top of the sport.
Naomi Osaka, US Open 2025 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Naomi Osaka continued her impressive return to form, defeating Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-6(3) in a hard-fought quarterfinal match at the US Open on Wednesday, advancing to her first Grand Slam semifinal in over four years.
The two-time US Open champion (2018, 2020), seeded 24th, battled past the 11th-seeded Muchova in a 1 hour, 49-minute contest on Arthur-Ashe Stadium. The victory marked a welcome return to the final four of a major for Osaka, who last reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal during her title run at the 2021 Australian Open.
Every time Osaka has reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal, she has gone on to win the title, a fact that will be on the mind of her next opponent, Amanda Anisimova, who upset top seed Iga Swiatek in the other quarterfinal match.
“It means so much. I’m surprised I’m not crying”
“It means so much. I’m surprised I’m not crying,” Osaka said in her on-court interview after the win. “Two years ago, I was sitting up there watching and hoping I would have an opportunity to play on this court again, so my dreams are coming true. There’s been so much hard work you guys haven’t seen.”
The victory is the latest in Osaka’s resurgence on the tour following her return from a lengthy maternity break, in 2024. It was her first win against a top-10 player this season, having beaten Coco Gauff in the previous round. The win over Muchova projects her to return to the top 20 rankings for the first time since 2022.
Known for her aggressive, hard-hitting style, Osaka’s game was on full display. She hit 30 winners, nearly 50% more than Muchova’s 21, and served five aces. The statistics highlight a match of fine margins, where Osaka’s ability to capitalize on key moments proved decisive. On serve, she won 75% of her first-serve points compared to Muchova’s 73%, and held a slight edge on her second serve as well, winning 44% of those points to Muchova’s 38%.
Muchova’s MTO
Muchova, a US Open semifinalist in the past two years, was seeking her fifth career Grand Slam semifinal. She came into the match after a series of marathon contests, which may have contributed to her visibly tired movement at times. Muchova was able to break Osaka’s serve twice, but Osaka was more clinical, converting three of her own break points to secure the win.
The first set was a tight affair, with both players holding serve until Osaka broke at a crucial moment to take the set 6-4. After a brief medical timeout for an apparent leg issue, Muchova showed her trademark grit, breaking Osaka to take an early lead in the second set. However, Osaka immediately broke back, and the set proceeded on serve – apart from another one at 4-4, leading to a tiebreak.
In the tiebreak, Osaka’s powerful groundstrokes and serve proved too much for Muchova. She seized an early lead and closed out the match on her second match point.
Muchova’s two-year streak of reaching the US Open semifinals came to an end. The loss marks the end of a gritty tournament run where she had a high number of games dropped on her way to the quarterfinals.
