Miami Open: Naomi Osaka to face new world number one Iga Swiatek in final

2 years ago 48

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Naomi Osaka fought back to beat Belinda Bencic and set up a Miami Open final against incoming world number one Iga Swiatek of Poland.

Japan's Osaka beat the Swiss 4-6 6-3 6-4 to reach her first final since she won the 2021 Australian Open.

She is now ranked 77th in the world as she continues her return from a break from the sport.

Second seed Swiatek, who won the Indian Wells title last week, beat American Jessica Pegula 6-2 7-5.

Swiatek is the first player to reach the finals of both American hard-court events since Victoria Azarenka, who won both tournaments in 2016.

She is on a 16-match winning streak and and has won 18 consecutive sets.

Swiatek has not faced Osaka since 2019, with the Japanese winning in straight sets, but has since gone on to lift her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2020 French Open.

"My second match on the WTA Tour, when I felt I am doing a breakthrough, was against Osaka," she said.

"Even though I lost that match, it inspired me to work harder because she was number one back then.

"Right now I feel like I am on a different level, so I can actually compete. I'm really excited."

Osaka looked emotional after sealing victory over Bencic, who had won their past three encounters.

The four-time Grand Slam champion had her Australian Open title defence ended in the third round in January and is playing just her fourth event of the year.

She is also yet to drop a set in Miami and will rise back into the top 30 should she win the title.

"I feel like if I was negative for a split second, I would have lost the match today," Osaka said.

"I have to keep pumping myself up and I haven't played as many matches as a lot of these other players so I just have to keep learning."

The final takes place on Saturday at 16:00 BST.

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