Naomi Osaka beat Alicia Parks in straight sets at the ASB Classic in New Zealand to reach her first WTA final since 2022 and after returning to tennis last year following the birth of her first child.
The four-time Grand Slam champion defeated Parks 6-4 6-2 to advance to Sunday’s final, where she will face Denmark’s Klara Towson.
Osaka was playing in her first semifinal since the 2022 Miami Open, where she defeated Belinda Bencic before losing to Iga Sviatek in the championship match.
He will be looking to win his first title since the 2021 Australian Open.
Osaka will face Denmark’s Klara Towson in the final in New Zealand on Sunday
The Japanese star announced her retirement from tennis just before the 2023 Australian Open when she discovered she was pregnant.
Osaka returned to court at the 2024 Brisbane International but struggled last year to recapture the form that made her world No.1.
Ranked 57th in Auckland, her victory in the semi-finals catapulted Osaka back into the top 50 of the WTA Live Rankings.
“Of course I’m really happy to be in the final, but I’ve never actually been to the final of a tournament a week before Melbourne, so this is a career first for me,” Osaka said. Sky Sports Tennis.
“I think in my head I’m always happy that there are things that need to be improved or improved all the time, no matter how old you are.”
Watch the Auckland Classic final as well as the United Cup and ATP and WTA events in Brisbane and Hong Kong this weekend live on Sky Sports Tennis or stream NOW!.
