ASB Classic day six: Naomi Osaka books final showdown with Clara Tauson

The final will be played on Sunday afternoon.

Clara Tauson will be a showpiece in the tournament

The first finalist of the ASB Classic has been found, with Clara Tauson taking her second straight-sets win of the day.

The fifth seed is the highest remaining seed at the tournament after knocking out No. 1 Madison Keys in a weather-disrupted quarterfinal earlier in the day. And Tauson was too good for unseeded American Robin Montgomery in the semi-finals, winning 6-4, 6-3 to advance to tomorrow's final.

Tauson will face the winner of the second semifinal between seventh seed Naomi Osaka and unseeded American Alycia Parks, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Tauson takes opening set in first semi-final

Clara Tauson continued to shine on a busy day by winning the first set in her semi-final against Robin Montgomery.

With a place in the ASB Classic final on the line, the Danish fifth seed claimed the set 6-4, converting three break points against her unseeded opponents.

It was a hectic schedule for Tauson, who cruised to victory over top seed Madison Keys this morning, winning 6-4, 7-6 (9) after taking the first set last night.

Fourth semi-finalist found

Unseeded American Alycia Parks continued her lead in the ASB Classic with a straight-sets win over compatriot Katie Volynets, 6-1, 6-4.

The match was played on the Stanley Street indoor court to allow timely completion after the weather delayed the start of the day's play.

The match was one of two that could not be completed yesterday when play was suspended due to rain.

Parks made the most of her opportunities in the match, fending off six break points while earning two of three to win the first set 6-1 in 33 minutes.

Volynets, the tournament's eighth seed, found herself in a strong position in the second set at 3-1 but could not hold her serve to extend that lead, with Parks breaking Volynets' next two service games en route to a 6-4. set victory.

Parks will meet seventh seed Naomi Osaka in the semifinals later today, following the showdown between Clara Tauson and Robin Montgomery, scheduled for 3 p.m.

Top seed eliminated in straight sets

Clara Tauson booked her place in the semifinals by beating top seed Madison Keys in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (9).

Tauson, the tournament's fifth seed, fought back from a 5-3 deficit in the second set to end the match in a tiebreak. Keys led the second set 4-3 when the match was suspended last night due to rain, and broke the Tauson serve in the opening game when play resumed.

However, the Dane held back the courage to break back and the rest of the set remained on serve. In the tiebreak, Keys had two set points but was unable to capitalize before Tauson converted her first match point.

The 22-year-old is now the highest remaining seed in the tournament and will meet unseeded American Robin Montgomery in the semi-finals later today.

The game moves indoors

With the weather postponing this morning's play – the ongoing quarter-final between Madison Keys and Clara Tauson will now not start on center court until 11.45am – the scheduled fourth quarter-final between eighth seeds Katie Volynets and Alycia Parks has been moved to an indoor court and will start as soon as possible.

Bumper schedule set after weather delay

With rain suspending play early last night, two of the eventual semi-finalists in the women's draw will have to play twice today as two quarter-final matches remain unresolved.

Top seed Madison Keys resumes one set behind against Danish No. 5 seed Clara Tauson as that quarterfinal came midway through the second set when rain fell. Keys led 4-3 in the second set and will look to close it out when play gets underway around 11am.

In the fourth quarterfinal, No. 8 seed Katie Volynets meets Alycia Parks.

Robin Montgomery and seventh seed Naomi Osaka already await in the semi-finals, with Montgomery set to meet either Keys or Tauson in the first semi-final, which will not be before 3 p.m.

Should Tauson beat Keys, she could make three appearances today as she also remains alive in doubles. She plays alongside American Sloane Stephens and is scheduled for a semi-final against Aleksandra Krunic and Sabrina Santamaria in the night session.