Osaka, Brady progress into 2021 Australian Open final

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Third seed Naomi Osaka ended Serena Williams’ hopes of finally getting that 24th Grand Slam singles title, while seed No.22 Jennifer Brady joined the Japanese in the final with a three-set triumph over first-time major semifinalist Karolina Muchova at the 2021 Australian Open.

Tenth seed Serena Williams established an early 2-0 lead, but Naomi Osaka responded by winning five games in a row and soon afterwards claimed the opening set even with the poor first-serve percentage of 36%.

In the first game of the second set, Osaka broke Williams’ serve and held on to that lead until 4-2. Williams managed to level the set at 4-4, as Osaka made three double faults in her service game, including on break point. Williams’ hopes of forcing the third set were quickly shattered as Osaka didn’t lose a single point since allowing a mini comeback of her opponent and progressed into the final with a 6-3 6-4 victory.

The 39-year-old Williams has been aiming to tie Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam singles titles, the all-time record.

Having lost the first in nine Australian Open semifinals she’s played, Williams was really disappointed and prematurely ended the post-match press conference as she broke down in tears and left.

The major reason for this defeat were definitely errors, as Williams stated:

It was a big error day for me today.

When asked whether putting her hand on her heart while walking off the court to a standing ovation was her way of saying farewell, Williams responded:

If I ever say farewell, I wouldn’t tell anyone.

In the second semifinal on Thursday, Jennifer Brady beat seed No.25 Karolina Muchova 6-4 3-6 6-4 to advance to her maiden Grand Slam final at the Australian Open.

In her on-court interview right after the match, Brady was asked to put into words the emotions she was feeling, and she responded:

I can’t feel my legs, my legs are shaking, my heart is racing.

The upcoming championship match in Melbourne will be a repeat of the 2020 US Open semifinal between Osaka and Brady, which both of them say is one of their best matches ever.

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Marija Zivlak
Marija Zivlak is the founder and editor-in-chief of Women’s Tennis Blog, a trusted source for in-depth coverage of the WTA Tour, tennis fashion, and player insights. Based in Belgrade, Serbia, she has been reporting on women’s tennis for over 18 years and has contributed exclusive fashion articles to the official WTA website. Marija launched Women’s Tennis Blog on March 31, 2007 to provide fans with accurate, engaging, and up-to-date tennis news. Her expertise and deep connections within the sport allow her to offer unique perspectives on tennis trends, gear, and events.

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