Osaka explains her great moment: "I left behind all the expectations"

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It seemed almost impossible, or at least very hard to imagine, but it feels like Naomi Osaka is back among the best players in the world. The Japanese player put on another great performance against Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals of the WTA Montreal 2025, defeating her 6-2 6-2, and will now compete for a spot in the final against Clara Tauson. The Dane is having a great week with wins over players like Madison Keys or Iga Swiatek, but Osaka knows she is facing a great opportunity and has shown it so far, dropping only one game in the round of 16 (6-1 6-0 against Anastasia Sevastova) and four in the quarterfinals.

We hadn't seen Naomi Osaka in a semifinal at WTA 1000 level or higher since the Miami Open 2022. More than three years later and now at 27 years old, the Japanese player appears happy on a tennis court at WTA Montreal 2025. It has been a challenge for someone like Osaka to find that happiness, as she has often struggled with mental health issues. She attended the press conference after the victory over Svitolina and analyzed her good form.

- A good moment, but unexpected

"I'm very happy and excited. It's interesting because after Wimbledon, I felt very disappointed, so I just went with the flow and let go of all expectations I might have had for myself, and here we are now. It's ironic, but I'm happy about it. I just keep a lot of self-confidence and know that I'm in good physical shape. I try not to give away any points and fight at all times, while also seeing what happens when I try to do things right both on and off the court. Today, I felt very good physically, which is a very positive thing when playing against someone who moves as well as Elina."

- How she sees her opponents

The head-to-head between Osaka and Svitolina was tied at three before this match, in which the Japanese player tilted the balance in her favor: "I know Svitolina is in great form, but I never really care how that player has been performing in recent weeks or months. All players are tough, and the truth is I was fortunate today. I had played against her several times before and knew it was going to be very difficult. Just like against Tauson in the semifinal, whom I know will also be very challenging because I remember her as an unconventional player, I don't exactly recall why, but I did see her as a very interesting player."

- Happiness on the court

"I truly feel happier when I win matches, but this is the reality of an athlete. However, I also believe that I win because I am now happier, it's a mutual reinforcement. It's hard to comprehend, but I feel more at peace with myself in terms of what I expect from this part of the season. I haven't felt this way since the Australian Open because there are tournaments where I know I will be confident and give my best performance."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Osaka explica su gran momento: "Dejé atrás todas las expectativas"