Naomi Osaka is back: Reaches first WTA 1000 semifinal since 2022 by defeating Elina Svitolina in Montreal

Naomi Osaka had no problems defeating Elina Svitolina to earn her spot in the Canadian Open semifinals, returning to the final four of a WTA 1000 for the first time since the 2022 Miami Open final. The four-time Grand Slam champion continues to show impeccable form and is having her best tournament in years after leaving the Ukrainian behind.

The Japanese player had no issues in defeating her opponent, winning 82% of her first-serve points against only 62% for Svitolina. It was a notable performance for Osaka, who since saving match points in her second-round encounter against Liudmila Samsonova, has barely conceded a handful of games in her subsequent matches.

The former world No. 1 has now defeated Ariana Arseneault (6-4, 6-2), Samsonova (4-6, 7-6, 6-3), the 22nd seed Jeļena Ostapenko (6-2, 6-4), Anastasija Sevastova (6-1, 6-0), and now Svitolina (6-2, 6-2). Her next opponent will be the Danish player Clara Tauson, who handily defeated the 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys.

Osaka, 27, has also achieved her best ranking since 2022, placing herself back in the top 30 (No. 29 in the live ranking), also earning the chance to be one of the seeded players at the US Open. Osaka is showing a new version of herself after ending her partnership with Patrick Mouratoglou and looks closer than ever to fighting for a title in a major tournament again.

Osaka's aggression pays off in dominant first set

In the first set, Osaka took advantage of her opponent's serving problems to go on a good winning streak. After starting tied at 1-1 with each player holding their serve, Osaka took control, winning four games in a row against a Svitolina who had no answers for her opponent's aggression.

The Japanese player got two consecutive breaks and went up to 5-1 with a chance to serve for the set. It was a widely disputed game in which Osaka had the first set point, but Svitolina finally recovered the break after six opportunities. Although Svitolina closed the gap, it was of little use as the next service game ended in a third consecutive break in Osaka's favor. The first set ended 6-2 for Osaka.

Osaka's relentless pressure seals the semifinal spot in second set

In the second set, both players seemed firm on their serves and started tied at 2-2 without either of them putting their opponent in too much trouble on the return. However, from 2-2, things would change in Osaka's favor. She would not let the match get too complicated, winning 11 consecutive points on her serve.

The Japanese player was also aggressive on the return and got another two consecutive breaks—totaling four games in a row—before closing out the set 6-2 again. Osaka earned a notable victory against the world No. 13 and secured her place in the final of the WTA 1000 Canadian Open for the first time in her career, improving on her 2019 quarterfinal run, where she fell to the 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.

Osaka to face Tauson in semifinals

Osaka's next opponent will be none other than the Danish player Clara Tauson, currently ranked No. 19. Tauson has secured her best-ever ranking by reaching the semifinals of a WTA 1000 for the second time in her career, both this year.

They have only one previous matchup: the final of the Auckland Open at the beginning of the year, in which the Dane ended up winning the title after Osaka retired with an injury after one set (6-4, ret.). Osaka will play in her first WTA 1000 semifinal since the 2022 Miami Open, and this time, alongside her coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, she will seek to return to a major final.

Match Statistics Svitolina vs. Osaka