In a bizarre match that involved two bouts of rain and a nine-minute injury timeout, Naomi Osaka prevailed in three sets over American Hailey Baptiste at the 2025 ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. She advances to her first semifinal in a WTA event since 2022. Osaka will play the winner of the all-American quarterfinal between Katie Volynets and Alycia Parks.
Next stop: semis 🤗 @naomiosaka defeats Hailey Baptiste 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-2, and is through to her first semifinal since 2022 🤯 #ASBClassic2025 pic.twitter.com/357xvZxrf6
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) January 3, 2025
Osaka Overcomes Errors To Advance To Semfinals
Baptiste played a great first set, staying with Osaka. In the tiebreaker, Osaka was riddled with errors giving Baptiste the first set. Osaka found her form in the second and third sets. Baptiste was also visibly struggling with foot issues prompting the lengthy timeout.
Osaka spoke after the match about being relieved to be through. She thought that they played quality tennis but admitted that it was unfortunate that Baptiste got injured.
She also said that she needed the reps, so in a weird way, she was happy to play three sets. Osaka spoke all of this as rain began to fall again. The match ended just in time, or there would have been a third rain delay.
Osaka Could Retire If She Can’t Perform At High Level
Osaka is determined to make inroads in 2025. She has hinted that if the results do not meet her high expectations in 2025, she will not stick around the game. Osaka would prefer to go home to be with her daughter Shai born in July 2023.
Tennis fans want Naomi Osaka to stay in the game so hopefully, the results she is looking for come in 2025. Patrick Mouratoglou is her new coach. It will be interesting to see if he makes technique changes to Osaka’s game or focuses on the mental aspect which is equally difficult.
