Naomi Osaka beat Alicia Parkes in straight sets at the ASB Classic in New Zealand to reach her first WTA final since 2022 and since returning to tennis last year after giving birth to her first child.
The four-time Grand Slam champion defeated Parkes 6-4, 6-2 to qualify for the final on Sunday, where she will face Danish Clara Tosson.
Osaka was playing in her first semi-final since the 2022 Miami Open, where she defeated Belinda Bencic before losing to Iga Swiatek in the championship match.
She will attempt to win her first title since the 2021 Australian Open.
Osaka will face Danish Clara Tosson in the final on Sunday in New Zealand
The Japanese star announced that she will step away from tennis just before the 2023 Australian Open after revealing her pregnancy.
Osaka returned to action at the 2024 Brisbane International Championship, but she struggled last year to regain the level that put her at the top of the world rankings.
Ranked 57th heading into Auckland, her semifinal win moved Osaka back into the top 50 of the live WTA rankings.
“Of course I'm really happy to reach the final, but I actually didn't reach the final of any tournament a week before Melbourne, so this is the first time for me in my career,” Osaka said. Sky Sports Tennis.
“I think in my mind I'm always happy that there are things to improve on or keep getting better at, no matter how old you are.”
Watch the Auckland Classic final, plus United Cup action and ATP and WTA tournaments in Brisbane and Hong Kong live on Sky Sports Tennis this weekend or Stream with now.
