The Melbourne court has witnessed what feels like a handover.
Naomi Osaka, 23, won in the Australian Open semifinals against Serena Williams, 39.
She joined the tournament final for the second time.
The last time she accessed it, in 2019, she won.
After a shy start to the match, the Japanese, world number three, imposed her power to eliminate the American 6-3, 6-4 in 1:15 and reach for her fourth Grand Slam final.
“It's always an honor for me to play against her (Serena), and I didn't want it to go too badly, so I did my best,” added Osaka, who had already beaten Williams in the final. of the 2018 US Open to claim his first Grand Slam title.
The strange statement of Serena Williams
Led 2-0 and ball 3-0 in the first set, Naomi Osaka came to her senses, regained her game and chained 5 games in a row, taking the service twice from Williams, to break away 5-2.
She immediately took control of the second set by making the entry break.
"When I was a little girl, I watched her play, and just being on the court against her is a dream for me," said Osaka, delighted with the return of the audience after five days in camera. .
On Saturday, in the final, she will meet another American, Jennifer Brady (24th world, 25), who will play her first major tournament final.
But it was ultimately the words of legend Serena Williams that exploded at the end of the game.
At a press conference, the American star, who appeared very disappointed, released an enigmatic sentence.
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When asked about the rest of the season, which promises to be complicated due to the pandemic, she confided, with a small smile, "if one day I say my goodbyes, I will not tell anyone, so… ”After a last question about her high number of fouls in the match, she simply replied“ I don't know, it's over ”, before getting up, crying, and leaving the room.
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When she left the court, she greeted the audience with a hand on her heart, as if saying goodbye to them.
Leaving the whole tennis planet in suspense.