US Open: Osaka's victory setting up a possible all-Asian final against Pegula

 Naomi Osaka makes it to the semi-finals of the US Open.

The possibility that two Asian women will be playing in the uS Open finals took another step to reality when Naomi Osaka won her quarter-final match against Karolina Muchova, 6-4, 7-6(3).

Osaka's victory Wednesday comes after Korean American Jessica Pegula won her quarter-final match on Tuesday against Barbora Krejcikova, 6-3, 6-3.

With a strong ground game and power serve, Osaka looked like the player that won the US Open in 2018 and 2020.

"It was an incredibly difficult match," Osaka said in her on-court interview immediately after the contest. "She's one of the best players in the world, and every time I play her it's so, so difficult. Last year she beat me here when I had one of my best outfits, so I was really upset," she added, drawing laughs from the crowd.

"I'm just really grateful to be here. It's my first time in a semi now (as a mom) I was sitting up there watching and hoping that I can have the opportunity to play on the court again, so this is like my dream is coming true," said the Japan-born Osaka. She immigrated with her family when she was 3-years old.

Osaka doesn't have time to celebrate and the road to the finals will be a challenge.  Her semi-final match will be today against Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anismova of the US. Anisimova has beaten Osaka in their two other meetings in 2022.

Pegula's match will not be easy either. She plays a familiar foe Thursday, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who beat Pegula in last year's classic hard fought US Open finals.

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