Montreal, August 6, 2025 — Naomi Osaka is officially back in the big leagues. The Japanese star battled past Denmark’s Clara Tauson 6-2, 7-6(7) to earn her place in the 2025 National Bank Open final, marking her return to a WTA 1000 final for the first time in over three years.
Osaka opened the match with purpose, showing her trademark clean ball-striking and taking the first set with ease. But the second set turned into a high-stakes showdown. Tauson stepped up her aggression, matched Osaka from the baseline, and even held set point in the tiebreak.
But Osaka’s experience under pressure shone through. She stayed composed, saved the set point, and clinched the match in straight sets with a huge backhand winner.
This victory makes Osaka the first Japanese woman to reach the National Bank Open final in the tournament’s Open Era. It’s a major step forward in her comeback season, and her level of play suggests she’s once again ready to compete with the best.
Clara Tauson deserves credit for her performance, fighting hard and pushing one of the sport’s biggest names to the edge. Her run to the semifinals, filled with powerful tennis and emotional strength, signals her rising status on the WTA Tour.
Osaka will now face Victoria Mboko in the final—setting up a clash of generations between an established champion and a fearless Canadian teen.
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