Naomi Osaka has beaten the Swiss Belinda Bencic in the semi-final of the Miami Open to reach the final and will face new WTC World No.1 Iga Swiatek.
Osaka beat Bencic 4-6 6-3 6-4 to complete a comeback and reach the Miami Open final for the first time in her career. Bencic had won each of her last three matches with Osaka, but she could not get past her this time.
The Japanese international has not faced Swiatek since August 2019, where she won straight sets, but Swiatek has since gone on to win her first Grand Slam, winning the 2020 French Open.
Swiatek is currently on a 16-match winning streak and will be named the new WTA World No.1 when the rankings are released on Monday. She will become the first Polish person ever to reach World No.1 in singles.
She has become the first player since 2016 to reach the finals of both American hard court events. The last was Victoria Azarenka, who won both tournaments.
After her break from Tennis, Osaka is back and is currently 77th ranked in the world. Victory against Swiatek on Saturday would send her back into the top 30 rankings.
Osaka announced in September 2021 that she was going to take some time out to focus on her mental health following her shock exit from the 2021 US Open and now she is competing in her first final since the Australian Open in 2021.
The final takes place on Saturday at 16:00 BST.
Man idk what’s going on but I’m just so grateful right now. Cheers to the ups and downs of life for making me appreciate this moment even more. We’re back in a final, see you on Saturday ❤️ pic.twitter.com/cNxV1lZC7d
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) April 1, 2022
