Clara Tauson’s impressive run at the WTA 1000 event in Montreal came to an end as she lost in the semi-finals to Naomi Osaka, 6-2, 7-6.
This win puts Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, into her first WTA 1000 final since Miami in 2022. The 27-year-old, who was once world number one, is now the first Japanese player in the Open Era to reach the final of the Canadian Open.
Tauson, the 16th seed from Denmark, had an emotional week. Just two days before her quarter-final win over Madison Keys, her grandfather passed away. In her match against Osaka, she missed a chance to go 3-2 up in the first set when Osaka faced two break points. Osaka saved them – one with a bit of luck as the ball clipped the net and fell on Tauson’s side.
After that, Osaka took control, winning the first set with ease.
In the second set, Osaka started strong again and led 3-1. But Tauson fought back and levelled the set at 4-4. She found her rhythm again and pushed the set into a tie-break.
Tauson started the tie-break well, going up 3-0 and earning two set points. But Osaka held her nerve and turned it around, eventually winning the tie-break 9-7.
Osaka will now face 18-year-old Canadian wildcard Victoria Mboko in the final. Mboko made a surprise comeback to beat Elena Rybakina 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 in the other semi-final.
