Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka has been making waves at the Canadian Open in Montreal, reaching her first WTA 1000 semifinal since 2022. The four-time Grand Slam champion’s impressive run later caught the attention of tennis fans worldwide for her celebratory social media posts that highlight her path back to tennis prominence.
How Did Naomi Osaka Celebrate Her Canadian Open Semifinal Victory?
Following her dominant 6-2, 6-2 quarterfinal victory over 10th seed Elina Svitolina, Osaka took to Instagram to share her excitement about achieving a milestone. In her Instagram post, she wrote: “your girl is gonna be seeded again at slams 🥹❤️ US Open being the first one honestly makes sense and is kinda full circle haha. Montréal I love you, tonight was fun- see you again tomorrow!”
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The Japanese star’s celebratory mood was evident in multiple Instagram stories and posts. After her quarterfinal win, Osaka was seen celebrating with a close friend whose birthday coincided with her victory.
During her on-court interview, she even led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to her friend Alex, creating a heartwarming moment that showcased her playful personality.
She even posted on Threads, writing “haven’t had that much fun in a long time. Thank you❤️”
Osaka’s performance at the Canadian Open has been particularly impressive, as the Japanese has dropped just one set so far while defeating notable opponents including Liudmila Samsonova, Jelena Ostapenko, and Anastasija Sevastova. Her quarterfinal match against Svitolina was completed in just 68 minutes, showcasing her dominant form throughout the tournament.
What Does Osaka’s Canadian Open Run Mean for Her US Open Seeding?
Osaka’s Canadian Open run represents her best performance at a WTA 1000 tournament since reaching the Miami Open final in 2022. With her latest victory, she has climbed to 29th in the live WTA rankings, putting her in strong position to be seeded at the upcoming US Open.
The tournament typically seeds the top 32 players, and while the US Open seeding isn’t completely confirmed yet, her current ranking virtually guarantees her a seeded position. This would mark her return to seeded status at Grand Slam tournaments for the first time since her comeback.
The timing is crucial as there’s still the Cincinnati Open to be held before the US Open, which could affect final seedings. However, with the possibility of player withdrawals and her strong position in the rankings, Osaka appears well-positioned to maintain her seeded status.
The Cincinnati Open runs from Aug. 12-19, leaving about a week’s worth of gap before the US Open begins on Aug. 26.
For Osaka, being seeded at the US Open holds special significance as she won the tournament twice, in 2018 and 2020, making it a particularly meaningful venue for her comeback. For now, she will take on Clara Tauson in the semifinals and look to book her place in the championship match.
