Naomi Osaka defeats Serena Williams to reach Australian Open final

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  • Naomi Osaka hits a return against Serena Williams during their Australian Open semifinal on Thursday (Wednesday night PST) in Melbourne. (Photo by PAUL CROCK/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Serena Williams of the US serves against Japan’s Naomi Osaka during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Japan’s Naomi Osaka hits a return against Serena Williams of the US during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Japan’s Naomi Osaka hits a return against Serena Williams of the US during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by David Gray / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Serena Williams of the US hits a return against Japan’s Naomi Osaka during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by David Gray / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Japan’s Naomi Osaka serves against Serena Williams of the US during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by David Gray / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Serena Williams of the US hits a return against Japan’s Naomi Osaka during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by Paul CROCK / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by PAUL CROCK/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Japan’s Naomi Osaka hits a return against Serena Williams of the US during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Japan’s Naomi Osaka hits a return against Serena Williams of the US during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by Paul CROCK / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by PAUL CROCK/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Japan’s Naomi Osaka adjusts her hair as she plays against Serena Williams of the US during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by Paul CROCK / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by PAUL CROCK/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Spectators watch the women’s singles semi-final match between Serena Williams of the US and Japan’s Naomi Osaka on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Serena Williams of the US hits a return against Japan’s Naomi Osaka during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by Paul CROCK / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by PAUL CROCK/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Japan’s Naomi Osaka hits a return against Serena Williams of the US during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Japan’s Naomi Osaka reacts after a point against Serena Williams of the US during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Spectators watch the women’s singles semi-final match between Japan’s Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams of the US on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Japan’s Naomi Osaka hits a return against Serena Williams of the US during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by Brandon MALONE / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by BRANDON MALONE/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Serena Williams of the US reacts as she plays against Japan’s Naomi Osaka during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by Paul CROCK / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by PAUL CROCK/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Japan’s Naomi Osaka hits a return against Serena Williams of the US during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by Paul CROCK / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by PAUL CROCK/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Serena Williams of the US serves against Japan’s Naomi Osaka during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by David Gray / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Japan’s Naomi Osaka hits a return against Serena Williams of the US during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by Paul CROCK / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by PAUL CROCK/AFP via Getty Images)

  • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 18: Serena Williams of the United States plays a forehand in her Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Naomi Osaka of Japan during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

  • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 18: Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a forehand in her Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Serena Williams of the United States during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

  • Japan’s Naomi Osaka reacts as she plays against Serena Williams of the US during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by Paul CROCK / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by PAUL CROCK/AFP via Getty Images)

  • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 18: Naomi Osaka of Japan serves in her Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Serena Williams of the United States during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

  • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 18: Serena Williams of the United States plays a forehand in her Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Naomi Osaka of Japan during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

  • Japan’s Naomi Osaka hits a return against Serena Williams of the US during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

  • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 18: Serena Williams of the United States reacts in her Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Naomi Osaka of Japan during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

  • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 18: Serena Williams of the United States looks on in her Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Naomi Osaka of Japan during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

  • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 18: The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup is seen during the Women’s Singles Semifinals match between Naomi Osaka of Japan and Serena Williams of the United States during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

  • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 18: Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a backhand in her Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Serena Williams of the United States during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

  • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 18: Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates a point in her Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Serena Williams of the United States during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

  • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 18: Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a forehand in her Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Serena Williams of the United States during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

  • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 18: Serena Williams of the United States plays a forehand in her Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Naomi Osaka of Japan during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

  • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 18: Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a backhand in her Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Serena Williams of the United States during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

  • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 18: Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a backhand in her Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Serena Williams of the United States during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

  • Serena Williams of the US celebrates after winning against Japan’s Naomi Osaka during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Serena Williams of the US celebrates after winning against Japan’s Naomi Osaka during their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Japan’s Naomi Osaka (L) greets Serena Williams of the US at the end of their women’s singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 18, 2021. (Photo by David Gray / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Naomi Osaka, left, hugs opponent Serena Williams after their Australian Open semifinal match on Thursday (Wednesday night PST) in Melbourne. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

  • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 18: Serena Williams of the United States waves to the crowd following her defeat in the Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Naomi Osaka of Japan during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

  • MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 18: Spectators look on following the Women’s Singles Semifinals match between Naomi Osaka of Japan and Serena Williams of the United States during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, Australia — As Serena Williams walked off the court after her latest so-close-yet-so-far bid for a 24th Grand Slam title ended with a loss to Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open, the 39-year-old American paused and put her hand on her chest as thousands of spectators rose to applaud.

Was this, Williams was asked at a news conference after the 6-3, 6-4 semifinal defeat, her way of saying goodbye?

“If I ever say farewell,” she replied with a smile, “I wouldn’t tell anyone.”

When the next question returned the conversation to the subject of Williams’ many mistakes Thursday (Wednesday night PST) – twice as many unforced errors, 24, as winners, 12 – she shook her head, teared up, said, “I’m done,” and abruptly ended the session with reporters.

Williams did not return to finish the news conference. However, she took to Instagram a short while later to address “Melbourne and my Australian fans.”

“Today was not ideal outcome or performance but it happens,” Williams wrote in her post. “I am so honored to be able to play in front of you all. Your support – your cheers, I only wish I could have done better for you today. I am forever in debt and grateful to each and everyone single one of you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I adore you.”

Williams was hoping to get to her 34th Grand Slam final but, once again, couldn’t quite get the job done in order to add one more Grand Slam trophy to her collection of 23 and equal Margaret Court for the most in tennis history.

Osaka, who also beat Williams in the chaotic 2018 U.S. Open final, reached her fourth major title match and stretched her winning streak to 20 matches by claiming the last eight points.

“I don’t know if there’s any little kids out here today, but I was a little kid watching her play,” Osaka, 23, said about Williams, “and just to be on the court playing against her, for me, is a dream.”

The third-seeded Osaka’s Grand Slam title collection also includes last year’s U.S. Open and the 2019 Australian Open and she is, without a doubt, the most dangerous hard-court player in the women’s game at the moment.

That used to be Williams, of course. But she was off-target too much in this contest.

“I could have won. I could have been up 5-Love,” said Williams, who instead took a 2-0 lead at the outset before dropping the next five games. “I just made so many errors.”

Her forehand, in particular, went awry, with no fewer than 10 unforced errors off that side in the first set alone.

“Too many mistakes there,” she said. “Easy mistakes.”

Williams’ frustration was made plain early in the second set, when she leaned over and screamed, “Make a shot! Make a shot!”

After collecting her professional era-record 23rd Slam singles trophy at Melbourne Park while pregnant in 2017, Williams has reached four major finals and lost them all.

She’s also now lost in the semifinals twice in that span.

On Saturday, at 7:30 p.m. local time (last Friday PST), Osaka will meet first-time Grand Slam finalist Jennifer Brady for the championship. The 22nd-seeded Brady, who is from Pennsylvania and played college tennis at UCLA, prevailed in an epic, 18-point last game to edge No. 25 Karolina Muchova, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, in the semifinals.

Brady dropped to her back at the baseline after saving a trio of break points, then converting her fifth match point when Muchova sent a forehand long.

“My legs are shaking,” Brady said. “My heart is racing.”

She lost to Osaka in a three-set thriller in the U.S. Open semifinals last September.

“Everyone’s just really excited whenever they play their first final,” Osaka noted about what awaits Brady, “but they’re also really nervous.”

One men’s semifinal was scheduled for later Thursday: No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. Aslan Karatsev, a qualifier from Russia who is ranked 114th and playing in his first Grand Slam tournament.

Djokovic is seeking a ninth Australian Open title and 18th Grand Slam trophy overall.

Rafael Nadal – who lost in the quarterfinals to Stefanos Tsitsipas after blowing a two-set lead – and Roger Federer are tied for the men’s record of 20.

Spectators were back in the stands on Thursday after they were barred from attending the tournament for five days during a local COVID-19 lockdown. About 7,000 people were allowed into the stadium for Williams-Osaka, roughly half of capacity.

Ushers walked through the aisles at changeovers to remind fans they needed to wear a mask or cover their nose and mouth.

On the hottest day of the hard-court tournament so far – 85 degrees – Osaka got out to a shaky start, perhaps prodded into pressing in her opening service game by a booming cross-court backhand return winner from Williams on the match’s second point.

That was followed by a double-fault, a wild forehand, and, eventually, a netted backhand that handed over a break. Quickly, Williams went up 2-0, then held another break point with a chance to lead 3-0 after another double-fault by Osaka.

“I was just really, like, nervous and scared, I think, at the beginning,” said Osaka, who was born in Japan and moved to the U.S. when she was 3. “And then I sort of eased my way into it.”

It didn’t take long for Osaka to right herself, however, taking control with a five-game run. Osaka broke Williams to begin the second set and was on her way. Suddenly, it was Osaka powering in aces, putting groundstrokes right where she wanted, covering the court so well. Williams’ movement has been terrific in Melbourne, but she was flat-footed this time.

Osaka never has tried to hide how much she admires Williams and models her game after the American’s.

Both are predicated on the same basic elements of big serves and quick-strike forehands, and not only did Osaka do both better on this day, she even sounded just like her idol, screaming “Come on!” after several key shots.

There was one last test for Osaka. A trio of double-faults in one game – she wound up with eight for the match – allowed Williams to break for 4-all.

But Oska regained her composure immediately, breaking back at love with the help of a pair of backhand winners and a double-fault from Williams, then holding at love to end it.

Williams was trying to reach her ninth Australian Open final.

Osaka became the third player to win each of their first two major meetings against Williams. Williams’ sister, Venus, won her first three major meetings at the 1998 Australian Open, 2000 Wimbledon and 2001 U.S. Open. The other is Jennifer Capriati at the 2001 French Open and 2001 Wimbledon, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

We can’t stop watching this warm moment between @naomiosaka & @serenawilliams.

???#AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/vfrJZWpqwX

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 18, 2021

? @serenawilliams

? serenawilliams (IG)#AO2021 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/ljQeRZj9WM

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 18, 2021

“I was a little kid watching her play, and just to be on the court playing against her, for me is a dream.”✨ @naomiosaka | #AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/66Na9CZ3Db

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 18, 2021

A peek at the ?#AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/Oc34hSRoUs

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 18, 2021

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