Naomi Osaka has ended Serena Williams' bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title in a storm of power hitting, humbling the American great 6-3 6-4 to reach her second Australian Open final.
Photo: Icon Sportswire
In a rematch of their tumultuous 2018 US Open decider, Osaka underlined her status as the new queen of women's tennis and soaked up the cheers from the Rod Laver Arena crowd as fans returned to the Grand Slam after a five-day lockdown.
Three-times Grand Slam champion Osaka will meet the winner of Jennifer Brady and Karolina Muchova in the title match.
"I did a lot of unforced errors in the first few games. I was really nervous and scared in the beginning and then I sort of eased my way into it," said Osaka on court.
"It's just always an honour to play her and I just didn't want to go out really dud. I just wanted to try my best."
Williams broke Osaka in the opening game, but the Japanese third seed reeled off five straight games in a devastating display before closing out the set with a blazing forehand winner.
Osaka took Williams' serve in the first game of the second set and would not let up until she wobbled with three double-faults to allow the American to break back to 4-4.
But Williams repaid the favour with a double-fault on the next service game giving Osaka three break points.
Osaka converted the first then closed out the match when Williams thudded into the net.
American makes first Grand Slam final
Jennifer Brady ensured there would be an American in the final by downing Karolina Muchova 6-4 3-6 6-4 in the other semifinal.
On a stifling afternoon at Rod Laver Arena, former college player Brady dug herself out of a mid-match hole to reach her first Grand Slam decider and a daunting title clash with Osaka, the woman who knocked her out of the US Open semis.
The 22nd seed ensured the United States would have another finalist a year after Sofia Kenin upset Garbine Muguruza for the 2020 trophy.
Brady saw four match points slip through her fingers as she served it out nervously but finally celebrated the win when Muchova fired a forehand long.
Brady slumped onto the court as a capped crowd cheered, and she was still overcome with the moment in her on-court interview.
"I can't feel my legs. My legs are shaking, my heart is racing. I am so nervous," the 25-year-old said.
"I came out a little strange today, super excited but at the same time I was pretty flat footed.
"My legs felt fresh but at the same time they just weren't moving. I felt like I was stuck in mud so I didn't really pick up my intensity until the beginning of the third set."
Brady's achievement is all the more remarkable after having been one of the 72 players who spent two weeks in hard quarantine and were unable to train like the rest of the field.
American Jennifer Brady has made the final of the Australian Open despite not training for two weeks in the leadup to the Grand Slam. Photo: ©Icon Sportswire
It was a madcap finish as Brady's serve went to the dogs in the final game.
Muchova saved match points bravely but also had three chances to break Brady's serve go begging.
Finally, on the 18th point of the game, Muchova stumbled with a miscued forehand to hand an elated Brady a shot at her first Grand Slam title.
"I'm obviously pretty excited to be in the finals here the Australian Open, it's an incredible achievement," said Brady.
"I think it'll be a really tough match. Obviously she's [Osaka] won a few Grand Slams."
- Reuters