US Open: Osaka Reaches Last Four; Anisimova Upsets Swiatek to Reach Semis
The US Open quarterfinals delivered nail-biting action and stunning upsets as Naomi Osaka, Amanda Anisimova, and Felix Auger-Aliassime all secured their spots in the semifinals. Osaka’s triumphant return to form, marked by her straight-sets victory, set the tone for a day filled with surprises and high-stakes drama on the hard courts of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Here is a wrap of all the action.
Osaka Returns to Semifinals with Win Over Muchova
Naomi Osaka marked her return to the US Open semifinals for the first time in five years, defeating Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). The former two-time champion showcased her determination and skill, overcoming a challenging match that lasted just under two hours.
Osaka, the 23rd seed, has shown remarkable form throughout the tournament, having eliminated higher-ranked opponents, including third seed Coco Gauff. Reflecting on her journey back to elite competition, Osaka expressed her gratitude, saying, “I’m just really grateful to be here… My dream is coming true.”
In a tense opening set, Osaka capitalized on Muchova’s mistakes to gain the upper hand. Despite a medical timeout for Muchova in the second set, Osaka maintained her composure, breaking back after initially falling behind.
“I learned that I love tennis way more than I thought I did,” Osaka added, emphasizing her renewed passion for the sport.
Anisimova Stuns Swiatek to Reach Semifinals
Amanda Anisimova delivered a remarkable performance, upsetting Polish second seed Iga Swiatek with a decisive 6-4, 6-3 victory to secure her place in the semifinals. This win marked a significant turnaround for Anisimova, who had suffered a brutal 6-0, 6-0 defeat to Swiatek at Wimbledon just two months earlier.
Playing in front of a raucous crowd, Anisimova quickly bounced back after dropping her serve in the opening game, breaking back immediately and frustrating Swiatek throughout the match.
“Coming back from Wimbledon is special to me,” Anisimova stated. “I worked so hard to turn that around, and today I proved I can do it.”
With this victory, Anisimova reached her third career Grand Slam semifinal, flipping the script on her earlier defeat and sending a strong message to the tennis world.
Auger-Aliassime Fights Past De Minaur to Reach Semis
In another thrilling quarterfinal, Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime battled back to defeat Australian eighth seed Alex de Minaur, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5, 7-6 (7-4). This victory marked a triumphant return for Auger-Aliassime, who has faced challenges with injuries and confidence since his semifinal run at the US Open four years ago.
The match was a rollercoaster, with Auger-Aliassime demonstrating incredible resilience, firing off 22 aces and 51 winners. After dropping the first set and facing significant pressure, he fought back in the second set, ultimately winning the tiebreak.
“It feels amazing to be back in the semis,” Auger-Aliassime said, reflecting on his journey. “It’s been a tough couple of years, but it feels great.”
