US Open 2025: Osaka back where she belongs

Naomi levels up

Facing the player who knocked her out of the US Open second round 12 months ago, Naomi Osaka held her nerve and produced a mature and composed performance to overcome the 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-6(3) in 1hr 49min.

The former world No.1 and four-time Grand Slam champion is through to her first major semi-final since the 2021 Australian Open, and her first since returning from maternity leave a year and a half ago.

“I learned I loved tennis way more than I thought I did, and I learned that I actually really love challenges,” said Osaka, reflecting on her journey over the past 18 months.

“It's like a video game. You pick it up, and even if you lose a level, you kind of just restart and keep going until you eventually win. I think it's a little tough at some times, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.”

That passion for tennis was evident during Osaka’s win over Muchova, who went up a break twice in the second set but couldn’t consolidate her lead.

Osaka adjusted well to Muchova’s variety, and combined her powerful baseline game with some impressive all-court coverage.

She broke her Czech opponent as she was serving for the second set at 5-4 and took a commanding lead in the breaker to finish off the job in straight sets, tallying up 30 winners along the way.

“I would say I'm definitely a lot more focused and kind of aware of point structure and also how important it is to try and conserve energy if you can. I'm definitely trying to hone in a lot more,” said Osaka of her mindset on court.

Osaka has never lost a major after reaching the quarter-final stage and is gunning for a third US Open crown and fifth Grand Slam title this week.

“I think for me it's very strange, the deeper I go in a tournament, the less nervous I become, unless it's a final, potentially,” she mused.

“I don't know. I haven't been there in a while. Just because I know, like, I have to give it my best shot, and these players are winning for a reason, so...”

Osaka will return to the top 15 when the new rankings are released on Monday.

What a way to bounce back!

Osaka wasn’t the only player to exact revenge on Wednesday.

Amanda Anisimova rebounded from a brutal 6-0, 6-0 defeat to Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon final less than two months ago, by defeating the world No.2 6-4, 6-3 in 96 minutes.

The No.8 seed hit 23 winners and just 12 unforced errors against Swiatek to move into the third Grand Slam semi-final of her career.

“Today I'm just really, really proud of myself,” said Anisimova.

“I feel like I really made a point to myself and also maybe to other people that, like, if you really put a positive mindset out there or, I don't know, just try and work through things, then you can have a positive outcome. I feel like I was really able to do all the right things, so I'm really happy.”

Anisimova takes a 2-0 head-to-head lead into her semi-final against Osaka, who lost to the American in the 2022 Australian Open and 2022 Roland-Garros.

“It still feels a bit surreal, for sure. It's the farthest I've gone by far at the US Open, and it's extremely special. Today is definitely the most meaningful victory I've had in my life,” said Anisimova, who has now made the semi-finals on all three surfaces at the Slams.

“I have that belief in myself and that confidence that I'm able to play at the top level, and I'm able to really go head-to-head with these top three and everyone who is in the top 10. I've shown that, and I think I was able to prove that to myself time and time again for a long time now.

“Yeah, it's really competitive these days, and also the Grand Slams are really tough. So I'm just really pleased to make it this far for the first time.”

Swiatek revealed after the match on her social media that she had been managing a foot injury throughout the tournament and wasn’t practising on her off days.

“We made it to the quarter-finals with a lot on our plate and I’m pretty proud of what I did in these circumstances. And more importantly of the experience I gained. I’ll be back next year with a lot of determination,” wrote the Polish six-time Grand Slam champion.

Felix books Jannik showdown

In a gruelling 4hr 10min victory over eighth-seeded Alex de Minaur, Felix Auger-Aliassime saved a set point in the second set and rallied back from 2-5 down in the fourth to reach the second Grand Slam semi-final of his career and first since the 2021 US Open with a 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-5, 7-6(4) result.

“Today, both Alex and I struggled big time at moments, but yeah, it was about having that belief that it will come, and then when the moment is, you know, under pressure, that you will respond well,” said Auger-Aliassime.

The Canadian is the third player born since 2000 to claim multiple top-10 wins at a men’s singles Grand Slam event after Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner, whom he faces next in the final four.

“He's been obviously untouchable at times,” said Auger-Aliassime of Sinner.

“Honestly, the next match I'm not really going to focus on my opponent more than myself. I need to play good tennis. I need to play even better than I did today, regardless of, you know, tactically what I want to do. I need to play at a high level in two days and then next round as well. There is no other way.”

Last on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Jannik Sinner swept aside his fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in exactly two hours to move into his fifth consecutive major semi-final.

In what was the first all-Italian men’s Grand Slam quarter-final in history, the defending champion fired 10 aces, won 91 percent of his first-serve points, and was an impressive 17/20 at the net.

“It was a great performance, very solid, especially starting very, very well. It’s nearly midnight, so thank you so much for staying, it means a lot for us,” Sinner told the crowd during his on-court interview.

Sinner will be bidding for a fifth straight Grand Slam final when he takes on Auger-Aliassime on Friday in his quest for a fifth major title overall and third of the season.