If anyone still did not believe Naomi Osaka’s game was all the way back, her gritty performance under the U.S. Open spotlight Wednesday night emphatically had to quiet the remaining doubters of the former No.1 player in the world.

Even herself, perhaps.

After crushing 2023 Open champion and American fan favorite Coco Gauff in straight sets in the Round of 16, Osaka moved into the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since returning last year from maternity leave and a mental break with a 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory over No.11 seed Karolina Muchova to kick off the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium. 4

The victory sets up a clash in the semis with eighth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova , who dispatched No.2 Iga Swiatek on Ashe to conclude the day session.

The 27-

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