The champion is back in the spotlight! What a transformation under the watchful eye of former coach Iga Świątek.

Naomi Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam champion and former WTA number one. However, recent years haven't been as successful for her athletically. The Japanese player has struggled with mental health issues. In July 2023, she gave birth to her daughter, Shai. After returning to competition, she hasn't been able to regain her best form.

That all changed in recent days. Osaka is currently competing in a WTA 1000 tournament in Montreal. Before the event, Iga Świątek's former coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski, joined her team. For now, the Polish-Japanese partnership is a trial run, but Osaka's results are encouraging.

Currently, the 49th-ranked player in the world is playing excellent tennis. In Montreal, she defeated Ariana Arseneault, Lyudmila Samsonova, Elena Ostapenko, Anastasia Sevastova, and Elina Svitolina, reaching the top four.

In the semifinals of the Omnium Banque Nationale, Osaka faced Clara Tauson. The Dane, in Canada, saw off the newly crowned Wimbledon champion, Iga Świątek , and this year's Australian Open winner, Madison Keys.

The match began with the serving dictating the game. The first break points came in the fifth game. Tauson had two such chances, but Osaka recovered. A few minutes later, the Japanese player celebrated a break and a 4-2 lead. The 27-year-old held on for the rest of the set, extending her victory (6-2).

In the second set, Osaka quickly built a 3-1 lead. Tauson quickly closed the gap, and then the scenario repeated itself. The Japanese broke the set, only to lose the advantage again in the next game. At 5-4, Osaka was close to clinching the match, having a 30-0 lead on Tauson's serve, but she averted the threat.

Ultimately, it all came down to a tiebreak. The Dane opened the match better, pulling ahead 3-0. Tauson was looking great – she was already leading 5-2, and from 6-4 down, she had two set points. But then her game completely collapsed. She started making simple errors on her return, a double fault crept in, and her advantage vanished. Osaka closed the match, winning by seven sets, securing a spot in the final.

The Japanese player thus continues her dream in Montreal under Wiktorowski's guidance. She will face the nearly 19-year-old Victoria Mboko for the title in the Canadian "thousander." She has already defeated three Grand Slam champions in front of her home crowd: Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, and Jelena Rybakina. Osaka could be the fourth player on this list.

Naomi Osaka - Clara Tauson 6:2, 7:6(7)

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