Osaka Dominates to Reach National Bank Open Semifinals
Japanese star powers past Svitolina, sets up rematch
Naomi Osaka has surged into her first National Bank Open semifinal, delivering a commanding performance to defeat No. 10 seed Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-2. The win marks her most significant WTA 1000 success since the 2022 Miami final.
A Resurgent Force
The four-time Grand Slam champion, who returned to the tour after a 15-month hiatus and the birth of her daughter, looked sharp against Svitolina. Osaka’s aggressive play secured her a spot in the final four, where she will face Clara Tauson.
Tennis fans are buzzing! 🤩 @naomiosaka has reached the #NBO24 semifinals with a dominant win over Elina Svitolina! She’s looking like her old self and we can’t wait to see what she does next. #Tennis #WTA pic.twitter.com/dQw4w9WgXc
— World Today Sports (@WTSports) October 27, 2024
Tauson’s Emotional Journey
Clara Tauson, the No. 16 seed, advanced by overcoming sixth-seeded Madison Keys with a 6-1, 6-4 victory. Tauson revealed after the match that she dedicated her win to her grandfather, Peter, who had recently passed away.
“I really wanted to win for him today. I really wanted to come out here and show my best tennis for him, and hopefully he’s watching.”
—Clara Tauson
Tauson, who has yet to drop a set in the tournament, shared that her grandfather was a significant supporter and occasional coach. She learned of his passing on Monday, the day after her impressive upset of Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek.
Canadian Hope in the Other Half
In the other semifinal, Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko will face No. 9 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan. Mboko’s breakthrough run at her home tournament guarantees a significant jump in the WTA rankings, placing her inside the top 50.
The 18-year-old from Toronto has defeated five higher-ranked opponents, including top seed Coco Gauff in the fourth round. This impressive showing highlights the rising talent in women’s tennis, with Mboko’s performance mirroring that of other young stars like **Carlos Alcaraz**, who became the youngest men’s world No. 1 in history at 19 years old (ATP Tour 2022).
Keys acknowledged Tauson’s exceptional play, stating, “She played amazing tonight. She played incredibly well, she served really well.” Keys added, “When she’s serving like that, it’s going to be really hard to break her.”
Osaka’s comeback story and Tauson’s emotional triumph set the stage for compelling semifinals as the National Bank Open progresses.
