Naomi Osaka vs. Clara Tauson: Where to Watch, WTA Montreal Preview

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Estimated start time: 7:10 p.m. ET, Wednesday, August 6

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Naomi Osaka vs. Clara Tauson: Match Preview

One player is climbing the ladder for the first time, the other looks ready to scale the rankings for a second time. Whose rise will take them to the final in Montreal?

Tauson and Osaka have played once, in the title match at the first tournament of 2025, in Auckland. Osaka was the better player that day, winning the first set, 6-4. But she had to default at the end of that set with an abdominal injury.

It was the start of a streak of hard luck for the former No. 1 that basically lasted until this week. And it was the start of what has become a career year for Tauson, a former junior No. 1 who, at 22, is finally showing us why she was so highly touted when she joined the tour. Tauson credits much of her recent success to her work with her coach, and boyfriend, Kasper Elsvad. Osaka may soon be able to say the same. This is her first week with Iga Swiatek’s old mentor, Tomasz Witkorowski.

Whatever they’re doing, and whatever their coaches are telling them, it’s clearly working. Tauson recorded her first win over Iga Swiatek in the round of 16, and didn’t suffer any letdown when she faced another Slam champ, Madison Keys, in the quarters. Osaka, after an early escape against Liudmila Samsonova, has been lights out in wins over two other seeds, Jelena Ostapenko and Elina Svitolina.

This semi will be a slugfest. Both of these tall women have good serves, they like to go for winners early and often, and they want to play as little defense as possible. Osaka probably has the more lethal return and backhand, but Tauson plays with a little more margin.

Tauson’s grandfather died this week, and she dedicated her victory over Keys to him. She said she has tried to “push it away” when she’s on court, but you wonder if it will dampen her excitement at all. Osaka has been waiting to play this well, and string this many wins together at a big tournament, for the better part of four years. If she has an issue, it might be overexcitement.

I’ll take Osaka, because we already know how high her ceiling is, and, as a veteran of many top-tier semifinals past, she may be a little more self-assured in the moment. Winner: Osaka

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