Naomi Osaka news: World No 77 on her comeback in Miami Open semi final with Belinda Bencic

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Naomi Osaka in action

Naomi Osaka will face world No 1 Iga Swiatek in the final of the Miami Open – but she very nearly crashed out of the competition in her semi final match against Belinda Bencic.

Bencic was just one set away from clinching victory, however the Japanese born player dug deep and pulled off an impressive comeback to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Osaka explained she learnt from her previous three meetings where she was defeated by the Swiss player and didn’t want to go down without a fight.

“In the second set I just told myself, listen if she beats you someone is going to have to carry you off the court in a stretcher because you’re going to fight for everything,” the four time Grand Slam champion revealed in her post match interview.

“I think I just got opportunities and I was able to see them as opportunities so I was able to push myself through it.

“I’m honestly glad that this was such a tough match because I feel like you need that learning experience and I learned a lot from that today.”

Osaka explained she wanted to use this match to show her progression as a player and as a more mature person, but also had time to comment on her opponent’s performance which she has a lot of respect for.

The two time US Open champion said: “I was thinking I have been in this position with her before because I have played her multiple times, but I felt like all those times I have kind of been panicked.

“I was just telling myself, this is a really good chance to show yourself how much you have matured, just try not to repeat the mistakes that you have made before.

“I kind of want to watch video footage of her backhand returns because they were so good today.”

Osaka faces Swiatek in the final of the Miami Open later today.

Belinda Bencic Iga Swiatek Naomi Osaka

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