Tennis. US Open: Osaka beats a weakened Muchova and advances to the semi-finals

Naomi Osaka (world ^number 24) qualified for the US Open semi-finals on Wednesday at the expense of Karolina Muchova ( ^number 13), who injured her thigh during the match. Winning 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), the Japanese player reached a new level, having not competed at this level in a Grand Slam for nearly five years (Australian Open 2021).

"There was a lot of work that you didn't see," she explained of her return to the highest level. "It's like a dream come true." After a balanced start to the match, the 2018 and 2020 winner was able to make the difference with a few points at the end of the first set, on Muchova's serve.

Medical timeout

Broken twice in the second set, she broke her opponent's serve immediately afterward. Between the two sets, Muchova took a medical timeout, returning to the court with a heavy bandage on her left thigh. Although the Czech didn't appear to be restricted in her movements afterward, she grimaced several times.

She was coming off a tough run, with four straight three-set matches to reach the quarterfinals. Osaka will cross paths in the semifinals with Amanda Anisimova ( ^9th ), whom she has never beaten (two defeats in 2022). The four times Osaka has reached this stage of the Grand Slam competition, she has ended up winning the tournament.