Naomi Osaka defeated Serena Williams 6-3 6-4 on Thursday to advance to the Australian Open final.
After the loss, Williams posted a heartfelt message to his fans on Instagram. One part said, “I am forever in debt and grateful to each of you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I adore you. ”
The future of the 23-time Grand Slam champion remains unknown: “If I said goodbye, I wouldn’t tell anyone,” Williams said at his post-match press conference.
Williams won the first two games before Osaka settled down to win five consecutive games in the first set to take control of the semifinals.
“I was a child watching her play and just being on the court playing against her, for me, is a dream,” said Osaka, after his victory.
Seeking his fourth grand slam and second Australian Open title, Osaka never lost in the quarterfinals or later in an important tournament (11-0). In Saturday’s championship, Osaka will face American Jennifer Brady, who defeated Karolina Muchova 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to advance to her first Grand Slam final in her career.
Brady fought to an 18-point final in the third set, which included six dukes, three break points and five match points, to become the first female college player to advance to a Grand Slam final since 1983.
Brady lost to Osaka in the US Open semifinals in 2020.
“It will be a very difficult game,” said Brady. “She won some Grand Slams. I think it will be a very good match.”