Naomi Osaka Beats Serena Williams, Storms Into Australian Open Final

Naomi Osaka defeats Serena Williams: Naomi Osaka got the better of Serena Williams and won the much-awaited semi-final match to reach her second Australian Open final.

Osaka powered through the final round ensuring a 6-3, 6-4 game win. The three-time Grand Slam champion will next face the winner of Jennifer Brady and Karolina Muchova match at the final. The reigning US Open champion, Osaka is now one step closer to her fourth grand slam title after beating her childhood idol Williams in straight sets at the semifinals of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

The Australian Open favourite Osaka is seeking a fourth Grand Slam title. The Japanese national has won a total of six titles in her career: Naomi Osaka defeats Serena Williams at Australian Open.

With this, 39-year-old Williams lost her chance to gain a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title. She has won the title in Australia seven times.

A great run Down Under 👏❤️@serenawilliams | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/e8jtq9rx28

— wta (@WTA) February 18, 2021

Competing at her 20th Australian Open, Williams on Wednesday advanced to her 40th Major semi-final, becoming the second-oldest player in the last four at Majors after Billie Jean King and the third with that many appearances after Chris Evert (52) and Martina Navratilova (44).

Australian Open Naomi Osaka:

What a match! 🙌@naomiosaka defeats Serena Williams, 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the #AusOpen final! pic.twitter.com/2Wiuq0fV34

— wta (@WTA) February 18, 2021

“I did a lot of unforced errors in the first few games. I was really nervous and scared in the beginning and then I sort of eased my way into it,” said Osaka. “It’s just always an honour to play her and I just didn’t want to go out really dud. I just wanted to try my best,” she added. Osaka also won the Australian Open in 2019 and was the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles. She won her last major and second US Open in 2020, arriving for each of her matches wearing a face mask with the name of different American citizens who reportedly died due to racial injustice.

She held the title of the Highest-Paid Female Athlete by Forbes last year. Off the court, she has been protesting against racial injustice and the death of Breonna Taylor, an African-American who was shot dead by cops last year in May, and also the death of George Floyd. She was also adjudged Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year.

Feature Image Credit: Forbes