Australian Open: Naomi Osaka ends Serena Williams’ record grand slam bid in semi-final wipeout
- Japanese world number three brushes aside 39-year-old Williams in straight sets as thousands allowed into stadium
- ‘It’s always an honour to play her and I didn’t want to go out (of the tournament) really bad,’ said Osaka, who will face Jennifer Brady in the final
Naomi Osaka emphatically ended Serena Williams’ latest bid for a record-equalling 24th grand slam crown with a straight-sets demolition in the Australian Open semi-finals on Thursday.
The Japanese third seed swept past the American veteran 6-3, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena in front of thousands of fans allowed back in after Melbourne lifted a snap five-day lockdown.
Osaka, 23, will face American Jennifer Brady, who beat Czech Karolina Muchova in the other semi-final, on Saturday for a fourth slam title after her success at Flushing Meadows in 2018 and last year, and Melbourne in 2019.
The victory left Williams, who won her last major in Melbourne in 2017, stranded on 23 grand slam titles as she strives to match Margaret Court’s all-time record.
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Since winning while pregnant in Australia four years ago, Williams has lost four slam finals, including one to Osaka in a controversial and heated 2018 US Open decider which left both women in tears.
