Osaka ousts Williams to make Australian Open final

The quest for a record 24 singles Grand Slam titles was put on hold for Serena Williams, as she was handed her first Australian Open semifinal loss by Naomi Osaka on Thursday in Melbourne.

With a limited number of fans now allowed back to the event, there was an electric atmosphere permeating around Rod Laver Arena. This semifinal matchup had the aura of a Grand Slam final, as both ladies were in peak form prior to this encounter. However, it was Osaka who dictated play for the duration of the match, prevailing 6-3 6-4 in an hour and 15 minutes.

The Japanese star lost her serve to begin the match, and was soon facing a 0-2 deficit. Nonetheless, she remained focused, scrambling to retrieve every ball and forcing the errors from Williams. This led to Osaka winning five consecutive games, before taking the first set to a mixed reaction from the crowd.

The 2019 champion broke Williams to begin the second set, despite having a low first serve percentage (46%). However, she won 23 of 27 points on her first serve, as Williams sprayed balls wide and long in a failed attempt to apply more pressure. The unforced errors crept into the American's game, as she hit 24 while only recording 12 winners in the match.

Although Williams was able to level the set at 4-4, she was immediately broken to love in her subsequent service game. Serving for a spot in her second Australian Open final, Osaka kept her cool to advance to her fourth overall Grand Slam final.

The World No.3 is undefeated in Major finals, and hopes to keep the streak going when she faces the winner between American Jennifer Brady and Czech Karolina Muchova. Both ladies are competing for an appearance in their first Grand Slam final, with Brady having gotten close at the 2020 US Open, where she fell in the semifinals.

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