Auckland, January 3, (V7N) - Former world number one Naomi Osaka secured a spot in her first semi-final since 2022 with a determined comeback at the Auckland Classic on Friday, defeating unseeded American Hailey Baptiste 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6-2.

The four-time Grand Slam champion has shown promising form ahead of the upcoming Australian Open in Melbourne. Osaka, ranked 57th, has been steadily regaining her rhythm after a challenging period, including a 15-month hiatus during which she gave birth to her daughter Shai in 2023.

Reflecting on her return to the semi-finals of a WTA event for the first time since April 2022 at the Miami Open, Osaka shared her satisfaction with her progress.

"I put a lot of work in throughout last year, and even though the results didn’t show it, I'm just continuing to try as hard as I can to see where it gets me," she said. "The key focus again today was just to have a lot of belief and confidence in myself."

Osaka struggled for rhythm early in the match but found her footing in the second and third sets, showcasing a powerful serving game that saw her hit nine aces, bringing her total to 21 for the tournament. Baptiste, ranked 92nd, sought treatment for an ankle injury during the second set, which Osaka acknowledged as a factor in the match's outcome.

"She's an amazing player; it sucks that she was injured, but I think we played a really high-quality match," Osaka said.

In the semi-finals, Osaka will face the winner of the quarter-final between eighth-seeded Katie Volynets and unseeded Alycia Parks. This victory further strengthens Osaka’s momentum as she prepares for the Australian Open later this month.

END/WSD/RH/