Tears of joy this time: Naomi Osaka, former world number 1 dropped to 77th place, qualified for the final of the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami, marking her return to prominence after a year of battling a variety of problems psychological.
But the hardest part remains for the 24-year-old Japanese, who overthrew the Swiss Belinda Bencic (28 / a) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
In fact, she will try to win her 8 / o tournament in the women's circuit, on Saturday, against the Polish Iga Swiatek, future No. 1 in the world, or the American Jessica Pegula (21 / a).
For her first final in Florida she will have to overcome any anxiety and emotion that she betrayed after the victory over her opponent, to which she then paid tribute.
"I didn't feel like I understood her game at all, yet I managed to win. She is a fantastic player. I would love to beat me again. I just wanted to thank everyone. The atmosphere was really nice," Osaka said on the pitch, with veiled eyes.
"Damn, I'm still crying! But this tournament means a lot to me," she added with a smile that obviously contrasted with crying two weeks ago, in Indian Wells, where the Japanese saw her in tears for the third time. during and after his 2 / o round loss at Indian Wells, after a gratuitous insult from someone in the audience.