(Video) Clara Tauson Breaks Down in Tears While Paying Tribute to Late Grandfather After Reaching Canadian Open Semifinals

Clara Tauson has scheduled her career's second encounter against four-time Major champion Naomi Osaka in the Canadian Open semifinals.

(Video) Clara Tauson Breaks Down in Tears While Paying Tribute to Late Grandfather After Reaching Canadian Open Semifinals

Clara Tauson cries while talking about her late grandfather (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

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Clara Tauson has reached the semifinal of a WTA 1000 tournament for the second time in her career. On Tuesday (August 5), the Dane knocked out reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys with a 6-1, 6-4 scoreline to secure a semifinal berth at the Canadian Open.

With this win, Tauson has improved her head-to-head lead over Keys to 2-0. Before Montreal, the only time Tauson played a WTA 1000 semifinal was in this year’s Dubai Open, where she also reached the final but couldn’t beat Mirra Andreeva. Also, before this season, the 22-year-old had never progressed beyond the third round of a WTA 1000 tournament.

During her on-court interview after her win, Tauson couldn’t control tears as she paid tribute to her late grandfather, who passed away the day after Tauson eliminated six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in the fourth round.

Two days ago, my grandfather unfortunately passed away, so I really wanted to win for him today. I was told the day after I beat Iga, so yesterday…and I really wanted to come out here and show my best tennis for him. Hopefully, he’s watching.

Tauson is chasing her fourth overall title and her second one of the season, following her ASB Classic win. If she lifts the title, it will be her first victory in a tournament of the WTA 500 or above category. Tauson has registered multiple top 10 wins in a tournament for the first time in her career and will be playing her seventh semifinal on the tour.

Clara Tauson to play Naomi Osaka next

Tauson’s next opponent is the one who handed her the walkover in the final of this year’s ASB Classic. It’s Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, who also will be playing the Canadian Open semifinal for the first time in her career.

Naomi Osaka (via X/WTA)
Naomi Osaka (via X/WTA)

I think for me, I’m just having a lot of fun playing, and I’m really glad to be here. Someone told me it’s been seven years, so I just want to thank you guys for having me.

Prior to this season, Osaka had produced her best performance in the tournament in 2019 by reaching the quarterfinals. Last year, her run ended in the second round.

Osaka has so far played four WTA 1000 finals and lifted two titles: at the 2018 Indian Wells and the 2019 China Open. Before scheduling the clash with Tauson, Osaka took just 68 minutes to dismantle 2017 Canadian Open champion Elina Svitolina. It was their eighth career meeting, and Osaka has improved her head-to-head record to 5-3. Against Tauson, Osaka has played only the ASB Classic.

Clara Tauson could face Elena Rybakina or Victoria Mboko in the final

If Tauson gets the win over Osaka, she will play the final against the winner of the semifinal match between Elena Rybakina and Victoria Mboko. The Kazakh ace has locked horns with Tauson three times and holds a 2-1 head-to-head edge.

Elena Rybakina, Victoria Mboko
Elena Rybakina, Victoria Mboko (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, Team Canada)

They also met this year, in the third round of Wimbledon, which Tauson won in straight sets. The World No.19 has never faced Mboko, who ended two-time Grand Slam singles champion Coco Gauff‘s run in the fourth round.

Rybakina is aiming to reach the final of the WTA 1000 event for the sixth time in her career. So far, she has lifted two titles in this category: the 2023 Indian Wells and the Italian Open, in the same year.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion has lifted only the Strasbourg Open this season by beating Liudmila Samsonova. The last time she reached a final of a WTA 1000 tournament was in 2024 at the Miami Open, which she lost to Danielle Collins.

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