\n<\/p>\n
Should Osaka defeat Anisimova, she will become the first player to reach a Grand Slam final after becoming a mother since Victoria Azarenka made the 2020 US Open showpiece, which Osaka won.<\/p>\n
And if the four-time major winner goes all the way in New York, she will be the first player since Kim Clijsters (in 2009, 2010 and 2011) to have won a Slam after giving birth.<\/p>\n
Having struggled to put a dent in Muchova’s serve earlier in the first set, Osaka pounced decisively at 5-4 – going 0-40 up and closing out the opener at the second time of asking.<\/p>\n
Muchova, who began grimacing because of an issue with her left leg in the sixth game, called for the trainer and received medical attention off court.<\/p>\n
She returned with heavy strapping on her thigh, but it didn’t seem to hinder her tennis as she opened the second set with an early break.<\/p>\n
Osaka struck back immediately, however, and there was little to separate the pair until a frustrated Osaka conceded serve at 4-4 with a series of unforced errors.<\/p>\n
But, as Muchova stepped up to serve and force a deciding set, Osaka regained her composure and bounced back aggressively, breaking to love to level the set.<\/p>\n
She took control in the tie-break, opening up a 4-1 lead which proved enough for her to wrap up the victory with a beaming smile.<\/p>\n
“It was an incredibly difficult match,” Osaka added in her on-court interview. “She’s one of the best players in the world – every time I play her it’s so difficult.<\/p>\n
She joked: “Last year she beat me here when I had one of my best outfits, so I was really upset.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n