Naomi Osaka fights back tears after reaching first Grand Slam semifinal as a mother

Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, broke down in emotion after securing a landmark victory at the U.S. Open on Wednesday night. 

The 27-year-old defeated Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-6(3) in a tense quarterfinal, booking her place in the semifinals of a major for the first time since becoming a mother.

“It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders,” Osaka told reporters afterwards, her voice cracking with emotion.

 The former world No. 1, who gave birth to her daughter Shai in 2023, admitted that her comeback journey has been riddled with doubt and pressure.

Osaka, currently tipped to win her third U.S Open title, said she had drawn strength from fellow tennis mothers but confessed the comparison sometimes became overwhelming.

 “I’m really inspired by all the moms on tour,” she explained. 

“But I also have this feeling like I’m not doing good enough or that I’m being left behind. And I think when all the moms came back and they did well off the bat, I sort of felt like something was wrong with me.

"I know that Belinda [Bencic] made the semis of Wimbledon, so I just really felt like I was losing a race in some sort of weird way.”

The Japanese star has been gradually rebuilding her form since returning from maternity leave.

 She reached the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland at the start of 2025 and followed that up with a strong run to the Canadian Open final in Montreal, just weeks before the U.S. Open.

Wednesday’s victory against Muchova, a two-time U.S. Open semifinalist herself, extended Osaka’s perfect record in Grand Slam quarterfinals to 5-0.

The Nike-endorsed athlete, who won the U.S. Open in 2018 and 2020, will now take on American Amanda Anisimova in Thursday night’s semifinal.

Osaka has lost both of her previous encounters against the 24-year-old, including defeats at the 2022 French Open and Australian Open. 

“It’s definitely going to be really tough,” she admitted. 

“She’s so talented and she’s able to hit a winner from anywhere. So, I know it’s going to be tough, and I really like her as a person too, so I’m cheering for her. I’m not cheering for her against me, but yeah, it’s going to be fun. Plus, she’s American, and you know, this tournament means a lot to her as well.”

With this victory, Osaka not only reminded the tennis world of her formidable talent but also underlined the growing presence of mothers competing at the highest level of the sport. 

Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, and more recently Bencic have all set examples of balancing motherhood with professional success.

For Osaka, who has openly spoken about her battles with mental health in the past, the triumph in New York brings her one step closer to achieving a career fifth Grand Slam title.