Naomi Osaka has made her first WTA final in three years and she is a win away from lifting her first title as a mom.
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On Saturday, the seventh-seeded Japanese ousted world No. 82 Alycia Parks 6-4 6-2 in the semifinal of the WTA 250 tournament in Auckland.
On paper, it looks like a routine straight-set win - but the truth is that there were chances on both sides - and the difference was that the former world No. 1 came up bigger in the key moments.
During the match, Osaka converted 4-of-6 of her break point chances and saved 9-of-10 of the break points she faced.
On Sunday, the four-time Grand Slam champion will battle against No. 5 seed Clara Tauson for the Auckland title.
The 27-year-old Japanese and the 22-year-old Dane have no previous meetings.
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How Osaka beat Parks and what she said afterward?
Parks started the match with an early 3-1 lead but the No. 7 seed quickly responded by winning the next four games and going 5-3 up before serving out for the opener in the 10th game.
Up by a set, the Japanese went on to complete her win in two sets after clinching second-set breaks in the first and fifth games.
In her on-court interview, Osaka was asked how much it meant to make her first WTA final as a mom in Auckland.
"It was definitely really important. Im happy to get through to the final. Ive actually never gotten to the final of a tournament the week before Melbourne. This is a career first for me," the 27-year-old said.
"I think in my head Im really happy there are always things to improve and get better, no matter how old you are."
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If the Japanesebeats Tauson in the Auckland final, she will win her first title since the 2021 Australian Open.
