Naomi Osaka defeated Alicia Parks in straight sets at the ASB Classic in New Zealand to reach her first WTA final since 2022 and since returning to tennis last year after the birth of her first child.
The four-time Grand Slam champion beat the Parks 6-4 6-2 to advance to Sunday's final where she will face Denmark's Clara Towson.
Osaka played in her first semifinal since the 2022 Miami Open, where she beat Belinda Bencic before losing to Iga Swiatek in the championship match.
She will try to win her first title since the 2021 Australian Open.
On Sunday in New Zealand, Osaka will play Denmark's Clare Tauson in the final
The Japanese star announced her retirement from tennis just before the 2023 Australian Open after revealing she was pregnant.
Osaka is back on court at the 2024 Brisbane International but has struggled to regain the form that saw her become world No.1 last year.
Ranked 57th in Auckland, her semi-final win moved Osaka back into the top 50 in the WTA Live rankings.
“Of course I'm really happy to make it to the final, but I've never actually reached the final of a tournament a week before Melbourne, so this is my first career,” Osaka said. Sky Sports Tennis.
“I think in my head I'm always happy that there are things that need to be improved or improved all the time, no matter how old you are.”
Watch the Auckland Classic final, plus the United Cup and ATP and WTA events in Brisbane and Hong Kong live on Sky Sports Tennis this weekend or stream from NOW.