Naomi Osaka defeated Alycia Parks in straight sets at the ASB Classic in New Zealand to reach her first WTA final since 2022 and since her return to tennis last year after 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 Clara Tauson.
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 be attempting to win her first title since the 2021 Australian Open.
The Japanese star announced she was stepping away from tennis just before the 2023 Australian Open after revealing she was pregnant.
Osaka made her return to the court at the 2024 Brisbane International, but struggled last year to regain the form that made her world No 1.
Ranked 57th heading into Auckland, her semi-final victory moved Osaka back into the top 50 of the WTA Live Rankings.
“Of course I’m really happy to get through to the final, but I’ve actually never got to the final of a tournament the week before Melbourne, so this is a career-first for me,” Osaka said on Sky Sports Tennis.
“I think in my head I’m always happy there’s things to constantly improve or get better, no matter how old you are.”
Watch the Auckland Classic final, plus the United Cup and ATP and WTA events in Brisbane and Hong Kong live on Sky Sports Tennis this weekend or stream with NOW.
