Auckland, New Zealand – Former world number one Naomi Osaka secured her first final appearance since 2022 with a commanding victory over unseeded American Alycia Parks at the Auckland Classic on Saturday.
The four-time Grand Slam champion cruised to a 6-4, 6-2 win, marking another confidence boost ahead of the Australian Open, which begins on January 12 in Melbourne.
Osaka, who returned to competitive tennis after becoming a mother in 2023, showcased a clinical performance in her first semi-final since her hiatus. The 27-year-old is now set to face Denmark’s Clara Tauson in Sunday’s final.
“Of course, I’m really happy to get to the final here. I’ve actually never reached a final a week before Melbourne, so this is a career first for me,” said Osaka, a two-time Australian Open champion now ranked 57th. “In my head, I’m really happy. But there’s always constantly things to improve to get better, no matter how old you are.”
Osaka’s power and precision proved too much for the 78th-ranked Parks, who struggled in her second match of the day after her quarter-final was delayed by rain on Friday.
While Osaka has largely faced lower-ranked opponents this week, the final promises a tougher challenge against the 50th-ranked Tauson. The Dane advanced after defeating unseeded American Robin Montgomery 6-4, 6-3 in the semi-final. Earlier in the day, Tauson also delivered an upset, ousting American top seed Madison Keys 6-4, 7-6 (9/7) in a rain-interrupted quarter-final.
Osaka will now aim to secure her first title since her return, as she continues building momentum ahead of the Grand Slam season.