"Anisimova and Osaka are both working their way back up the rankings after returning from mental health breaks in recent years. Each has battled her own set of challenges as well as some of the top-ranked players in the world to advance to the penultimate round of the final Grand Slam tournament of the year. The two will face off at Arthur Ashe Stadium just after 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, with a lot on the line: The winner gets a spot in Saturday's final."
"Osaka, 27, is a four-time Grand Slam singles champion who in 2019 became the first Asian player to be ranked world No. 1 in women's singles. She took a break from the sport in 2021, citing her struggles with anxiety and depression, and has been an outspoken mental health advocate ever since. Osaka took an extended maternity leave to give birth to her daughter in 2023, and returned to competition at the start of 2024 unranked."
Amanda Anisimova and Naomi Osaka will meet in the U.S. Open semifinals Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Both players are rebuilding rankings after taking mental health breaks in recent years. Each overcame personal challenges and top-ranked opponents to reach the penultimate round of the final Grand Slam tournament of the year. Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam champion who paused competition in 2021 for anxiety and depression, then took maternity leave in 2023 and returned unranked in 2024. Unranked status forces early matches against top opponents, complicating ranking recovery. Osaka is ranked 24th after defeating No. 11 Karolina Muchova.
Read at www.npr.org
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