Naomi Osaka is through to her second Australian Open final in three years following a straight-sets victory over seven-time champion Serena Williams.
Key points:
- Osaka defeated Williams 6-3, 6-4 in the first women’s semi-final
- The third seed won the Melbourne Park title in 2019
- She will face Jennifer Brady in the final
Osaka, the 2019 winner, ended Williams’s Melbourne Park campaign with the 6-3, 6-4 triumph on Rod Laver Arena.
The Japanese third seed, who is the reigning US Open champion, has the chance to claim back-to-back majors in Saturday’s final.
She will face Jennifer Brady in the tournament decider after the 22nd-seeded American beat Karolína Muchová 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the second semi-final.
Williams’s defeat leaves her sitting on 23 major singles championships, one short of equalling the record held by Australian Margaret Court.
“It’s always an honour to play [Williams],” Osaka said in her on-court interview.
“I just wanted to try my best.”
Osaka said she had to overcome nerves early in the match, but having a crowd inside Rod Laver Arena for the first time since Friday helped put her at ease.
“I hit a lot of unforced errors in the first few games and I was just really nervous and scared I think in the beginning,” she said.
Osaka’s nervous start was illustrated when she dropped serve in the opening game of the match.
Williams, on the other hand, exuded confidence. She only lost one point in her first service game and had a break point when leading 2-0.
Osaka settled to hold serve and get on the board and it appeared she was beginning to find her rhythm.
Some clean winners off her racquet helped give her a break point in the fourth game, which was converted when Williams went long with a forehand return, levelling the first set at 2-2.
She gained the upper hand in the sixth game when a crisp forehand winner iced her second break of Williams’s serve and established a 4-2 advantage in the first set.
Williams cut a frustrated figure as Osaka raced through her next service game. She stayed in the set when she held serve but the writing was on the wall for the American.
Osaka served out the first set and then secured a service break in the opening game of the second to consolidate her position.
Williams was being encouraged by the small Rod Laver Arena crowd, who were no doubt enjoying the opportunity to once again attend Melbourne Park following Victoria’s five-day coronavirus lockdown.
Their encouragement was rewarded when Williams got the break of serve back after Osaka posted three double faults in the eighth game.
But it proved just a blip on the radar for Osaka, who produced three backhand winners as Williams dropped serve to trail 4-5.
Osaka then comfortably served to love to earn her berth in the final.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.
Live updates
By Andrew Mcgarry
So that’s it from the Australian Open for now. Stay with our website for updates on the second semi-final between Jennifer Brady and Karolína Muchová later today.
I’m Andrew McGarry and it has been a pleasure bringing you today’s action. See you soon for more tennis.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Osaka keeps the streaks going
Well, what can you say? One takeaway from today’s match is that Naomi Osaka’s winning streaks — on tour and in majors — are not just numbers.
Up against a fired-up opponent, she came back from an early deficit and once she hit her stride there was nothing much that Serena could do to turn things around.
Her movement was strong, her power on groundstrokes was awesome to behold. Osaka will deserve to go into the final as favourite.
As for Serena, she turns 40 in September. How many more cracks at the Australian Open will she have? This was a big chance to get the elusive 24th grand slam singles title.
it doesn’t mean she can’t equal the record with a win elsewhere – but on today’s evidence, she will have a tough job to overcome Osaka if she makes more finals.
By Andrew Mcgarry
By Andrew Mcgarry
Osaka speaks honestly – perhaps too honestly, about her tactics against Serena’s serve:
I was just guessing. I don’t know!. I don’t know.
It’s either going this way or that way, I’ve just got to put my foot somewhere.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Osaka speaks to Jim Courier on court post-match:
I hit a lot of unforced errors in the first few games and I was just really, like, nervous and scared I think in the beginning.
Then I sort of eased my way into it. For me, I think the biggest thing is just having fun and it’s the first day having the crowd in a while.
It’s always an honour to play her [Serena]. I just didn’t want to go out like really bad, so I just wanted to try my best.
By Andrew Mcgarry
It just took an hour and a quarter to finish things off.
Osaka bows to Williams at the net before their handshake / fist bump.
That was impressive by the 2018 champion – she will have to go in to Saturday’s final as the hot favourite, no matter who she faces.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Naomi Osaka beats Serena Williams 6-3, 6-4 to reach the Australian Open women’s singles final!
By Andrew Mcgarry
Osaka serves at 6-3, 5-4
Here we go
Ace, swinging wide to the forehand court 15-0
A solid serve, Serena blocks it back out 30-0
Osaka in a hurry, Serena flails a forehand well wide three match points
By Andrew Mcgarry
Williams serves at 3-6, 4-4
That was a shootout! Both players hammered their groundstrokes and neither one pulled back, but Osaka hit the corner for a winner and it’s 0-15
Wow. Osaka had Williams on the move that time, and she went for the corners before finishing with a cross-court winner 0-30
And a double!! Three break points for Osaka as Serena;’s shoulder slumps
Second serve – point of the match! The angles on those groundstrokes by both players – Osaka finally gets a beautiful low pick-up and whips a backhand across court for the break.
She will serve for the match!
By Andrew Mcgarry
Osaka serves at 6-3, 4-3
Where does Serena go from here? She’s not hitting the mark with her groundstrokes – partly because she’s not in the zone and partly because of the pressure from Osaka. She’s only one break down…
Fierce groundstrokes back and forth – and Osaka nets. 0-15.
A double!!!! Ok, that is bad timing for Osaka – but it’s a big opening for Serena
Now a second serve … and she hits the net for another double fault! Three break points!!!
Osaka saves one by forcing Serena to lunge for a return that goes long.
Great play! Osaka has Serena on the run with the wide serve and she finishes the point off. 30-40
It’s now or never – and Osaka’s second serve down the T goes wide! Osaka can’t believe it.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Williams serves at 3-6, 2-4
Serena lifts a level, pushes Osaka around the court with a great backhand approach then puts away the winner 15-0
Second serve – a brave one in the corner brings the error. 30-0
Now she goes down the T and Osaka can only deflect it down into the court 40-0
But Williams gets caught on the hop with a return from Osaka – it’s 40-15
Second serve – Osaka launches into it with a backhand down the line but it goes long. That’s game, but it’s still Osaka in the driving seat.
By Andrew Mcgarry
Osaka serves at 6-3, 3-2
Time is beginning to run out her for Williams – she has to get the break back soon.
She sees a second serve and stays in the rally before an osaka error ends the point.
Two quick points get things back on track for Osaka. 30-15
And a rapid rally ends with Serena hitting one long. She’s not in it right now. 40-15
An ace to finish it! Osaka is two games away.
By Andrew Mcgarry
By Andrew Mcgarry
By Andrew Mcgarry
Williams serves at 3-6, 1-3
Serena has a virtual open court but misses the shot! 0-15
She sends Osaka the wrong way and rips a winner – she screams, the crowd roars. Can she lift?
Serena hitting for the corners, Osaka gives up the error and teh crowd cheers. No guessing who’s side they are on in this set.
A winner for Williams and it’s game point. they exchange cross court forehands, finally Osaka hits the net and Serena holds for 2-3
By Andrew Mcgarry
Osaka serves at 6-3, 2-1
A looping second serve brings a backhand deep from Serena. It’s too deep. 15-0
This time it’s Osaka who makes the error, hitting one low into the net. 15-15
Serena is trying to pound the returns – she hits the net again and looks VERY frustrated. 30-15
A series of bullet-like groundstrokes are exchanged, and Osaka comes out the winner, forcing yet another error from Serena 40-15
A double fault! 40-30… Serena has to get rolling here…
Second serve – another chance for Serena, but Osaka keeps hitting it deep and she finally crushes a forehand into the corner to seal it. 3-1
By Andrew Mcgarry
Hard to tell, lachlan. Crowds have been capped at 7,477 per session (half the capacity of Rod Laver Arena),
it doesn’t look like it’s hitting the reduced mark, but a fair bit of the stadium is in shadow.
How big is the crowd for this match? Is it at the covid-maximum amount of people?
-Lachlan
By Andrew Mcgarry
Williams serves at 3-6, 0-2
The errors are mounting from Serena’s racquet. Another shot goes out, and it’s 0-15
Close call! Serena’s second serve gets clouted by osaka – she has the advantage but her backhand hits the net-cord and drops the wrong side.
The crowd cheers as Serena sends down an ace. 30-15
And an unplayable down the T. 40-15!
Williams pushes osaka wide, and the sliced backhand drops just wide of the line. A hold for Serena
By Andrew Mcgarry
Osaka serving at 6-3, 1-0
osaka may not be getting the first serve in, but she is pushing Serena around the court.
She quickly moves out to 30-0 with a winner and a Williams error.
Osaka has problems with the ball toss again. And Serena steps into the second serve and whips a backhand winner into the corner. 30-15
But now a double! 30-30
And an ace! 40-30. Can she consolidate the break?
Yes she can! Another ace – and it’s 2-0
By Andrew Mcgarry
Williams serves at 3-6, 0-0
Serena loses the opening point, and now some emotion! Serena shouts to herself after she nails a forehand winner down the line.
And another shout from Williams to motivate herself as Osaka hits one wide. 30-15
Great winner in the corner from Osaka – 30-30, and early nerves again on serve.
Williams gives up the break point with a poor netted return.
Second serve – She goes hard and both players fire groundstrokes down the middle of the court, but it’s Osaka who finds the angle for a winner to break again. 0-1
