The number:
1
Seven-time Australian Open winner Serena Williams (No. 10) has, for the first time in her rich career, lost a semi-final in Melbourne.
She was eliminated 6-3, 6-4 in 1h15 by Naomi Osaka (n ° 3) who will live, on Saturday in Melbourne, her 4th Grand Slam final (after titles at the US Open in 2018 and 2020 and at the Australian Open 2019).
Naomi Osaka (23) will face American Jennifer Brady (no.22) or Czech Karolina Muchova (no.25).
Simply sensational ✨ @ naomiosaka sweeps past Serena Williams 6-3 6-4 & is our first # AO2021 women's singles finalist! # AusOpenpic.twitter.com / KsMUARKI3L
- #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 18, 2021
The turning point of the match:
The good start was not enough.
Serena Williams deprived Naomi Osaka of her entry serve, to lead 2-0, before having balls to lead 3-0, to no avail.
The turning point of the match.
The American then saw the Japanese overwhelm her to pocket 5 consecutive games.
Osaka finally managing to better control nervousness (36% success in service for Osaka, 48% for Serena Williams) who won the two players to pocket with authority the 1st set.
The only fear in the second set was three double faults from Naomi Osaka who offered Serena Williams (broken at the start of the second set) to pick up at 4-4.
Before regaining all his composure to find angles sawing the defense of the American, by signing the last 8 points of the meeting.
The stat:
20/20
The victories chained on the circuit by Naomi Osaka for a year.
“I was a child when I watched her play.
It's a dream to be able to play it and beat it, ”said Naomi Osaka.
The one who is established as a sure bet in world tennis shines above all on hard in Grand Slam.
She has never reached the quarter-finals, neither at Roland Garros nor at Wimbledon.
She has plenty of time to fill this gap.
The sentence:
"Farewell?
If I ever said goodbye, I wouldn't tell anyone ”
Asked about his release from short the hand on the heart, Serena Williams, at a press conference, said: “I do not know.
The Australian crowd is so amazing so it was nice to see.
If I ever said goodbye, I wouldn't say it to anyone… ”Before breaking down in tears and leaving the room.
Serena Williams (who, 39, was just a few weeks younger than Billie Jean King in her semi-final at Wimbledon in 1983) is chasing a 24th Grand Slam crown that would see her join Australian Margareth Court (between 1960 and 1973).
Her last major final dates from the US Open 2019. Her last title dates back to the 2017 Australian Open. Victorious over Simona Halep (No. 2) in the quarterfinals in Melbourne, the legendary American did not, against the Japanese Naomi Osaka, disposed of the same to prepare and chain her shots.
Read also
Australian Open: Ladies results
