Naomi Osaka, 3rd in the world, qualified Thursday for her second final of the Australian Open by showing herself too strong for Serena Williams (11th). After a timid start to the match, the Japanese imposed her power to eliminate the American 6-3, 6-4 in 1h15.
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I made a lot of mistakes in the first few games, I was nervous and scared at first, then I relaxed. The most important thing for me is to have fun », Commented Naomi Osaka who won the title in Melbourne in 2019.« It’s always an honor for me to play against her, and I didn’t want it to go too badly, so I did my best. ”, She added. Osaka beat Williams in the 2018 US Open final to claim his first Grand Slam title.
Led 2-0 and ball 3-0 in the first round, the world N3 regained its senses, found its game and chained 5 games in a row, taking the service twice from Williams, to break away 5-2 and conclude on his service from his earliest opportunity, with authority and power.
She immediately took control of the second set by making the entry break. But, she who had never been endangered on her throw-in from the fifth game of the first set until the eighth of the second, completely missed her service game at 4-3, with three double faults at the key, allowing Serena Williams to come back to 4-4.
“The mere fact of being on the court against her is a dream for me”
Osaka, however, resumed his opponent’s throw-in in stride and served for the match. Having once again become imperial in its service, it imposed itself without question.
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When I was a little girl I watched her play, and just being on the court against her is a dream for me “, Confessed Osaka, delighted with the return of the public after five days in camera.
For a second title in Melbourne, the fourth in the Grand Slam, the 23-year-old Japanese will face Saturday in finale the winner of the second half between the Czech Karolina Muchova (27th), who eliminated in the quarterfinals the world N1 Ashleigh Barty, to the American Jennifer Brady (24th, 25 years old).
In either case, it will be an opponent who will discover the atmosphere of a Major final.
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