Despite thirteen unforced errors with the forehand and a percentage of first on the court well below 50%, Naomi Osaka wins once again against Serena Williams, in the semi-final of the Australian Open 2021. Serena renounces once again in advance the appointment with the twenty-fourth Grand Slam..
Even if she starts from the starting blocks with some difficulties and even if she puts the US champion back on track with a game-horror at 4-3, in the second, the Japanese tennis player proves to be more prepared. Serena fails to capitalize on an initial 2-0 lead.
The 5-2 by Osaka is practically a logical consequence: as is the 6-3 and the break that at the start of the second set completely addresses the challenge.
One step away from the finish line, from the fourth Grand Slam final and from the third career success against the American, the number three of the seeding jams with the service and with three double-errors she even finds herself on 4-4.
Naomi Osaka: “It’s always an honor to play with Serena”
With four splendid backhand solutions, two of which are winning, she immediately re-establishes the hierarchies and when the luminous draw is close to marking the ninety minutes of play she closes at 6-3 6-4.
During the press conference at the end of the match, Osaka talked about her match and her rival. She also praised again Serena. She said: “I was just really, like, nervous and scared I think in the beginning. Then I sort of eased my way into it.
It’s always an honor to play her. I just didn’t want to go out like really bad , so I just wanted to try my best. I don’t know if there’s any little kids out here today, but I was a little kid watching her play and just to be on the court playing against her for me is a dream.”
The champion of the 2019 edition will meet Jennifer Brady on Saturday, beaten a few months ago in Flushing Meadows in the semifinals. Right before the title.
