Australian Open 2021 day 11, semifinals: Naomi Osaka vs. Serena Williams – live! | Sport

For those who missed the 2018 U.S. Open final, this duo suffered controversy while on the court together. In that decision at Flushing Meadows, where Williams, having received three essential code violations, called the chairman a “thief” and imploded in the second set while Osaka held the courage to win. Williams then had to stop fans from booing during the Osaka trophy ceremony.

Of course, that was basically the first thing Williams was asked about after defeating Simona Halep in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, and just praised Osaka.

“I have been watching her and I am sure she is watching me, and I feel this is a great opportunity for me to continue doing my best,” she said.

The two faced off in the meantime, with Williams emphatically beating Osaka in Toronto in 2019.

In other words, it can be anyone’s.

It’s a perfect picture at Melbourne Park today. The temperature is around 30 ° C, controlled by a gentle breeze that sways the leaves on the imposing eucalyptus trees next to block 5. In Garden Square, participants are resting by a fountain. After the five-day block, there is a relaxed holiday atmosphere around the police station.

For the first time at this event, participants move freely around the venue. The three walled zones have been removed, with only two sites in use for the business end of the tournament. Instead, crowds are limited to each session at 7,477. Most of the participants in this daytime part are about to enter the Rod Laver Arena for the women’s semifinal between Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams.

The sun is shining. Mercury is hovering around the 30C mark. There are no new Covid cases acquired locally in Victoria again. And crowds were allowed back to Melbourne Park for the first time in five days of empty stands. You could say that things are very good at the Australian Open on the 11th of the first grand slam of the year. How could things get any better? What is it, you say? A mouth-watering female semifinal with two of the best and most fun players on the planet? Oh sir, yes, please.

Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka are the first at the Rod Laver Arena today, where they will fight for a spot in Saturday’s final. Williams, of course, is after a 24th Grand Slam title that broke the record and gave all indications so far in Melbourne that this could very well be the tournament in which she would finally tie with Margaret Court.

But there is a considerable obstacle in its path in the form of Osaka, which has also been in top form and seems capable of adding a fourth Grand Slam title to its growing collection. It is a potential classic. Don’t go anywhere.

Hot on your heels are Jennifer Brady and Karolína Muchová, in what is, it is fair to say, a much less widely expected encounter, although it is no less intriguing. And ending the game of the day tonight is No. 1 for men Novak Djokovic and Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev.

Tie yourself up. And contact us if you want; send an email to [email protected] or tweet @emmavkemp.