Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Japan’s Naomi Osaka after winning her semi final match against Serena Williams of the U.S. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Japan’s Naomi Osaka after winning her semi final match against Serena Williams of the U.S. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
No.3 seed Naomi Osaka has reached the second Australian Open final of her career. Osaka defeated 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in straight sets in the semifinals at Melbourne Park.
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With the victory, Osaka shattered Williams’ dream of equaling Margaret Court’s record of winning 24 Major championships. Notably, it was the first time Williams lost in the semifinals of the Australian Open, having won the title a record seven times.
Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Japan’s Naomi Osaka in action during her semi-final match against Serena Williams of the U.S. REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
After being 2-4 down in the second set, Williams broke Osaka’s serve to level the set at 4-4. However, Osaka broke back the following game by hitting three scintillating backhand winners and eventually served out the match.
Naomi Osaka possesses magical powers
The three-time Grand Slam champion shared an interesting anecdote during the post-match interview. Osaka talked about having eaten Greek food yesterday, on her day off, and then finding out after her sleep that Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas had defeated Rafael Nadal in an epic five-setter.
After delivering on court, Osaka delivers at the microphone.
Osaka: "Yesterday I decided to eat Greek food. And then when I woke up, Tsitsi beat Nadal, so maybe this is a sign!"
I think Stef will be buying Osaka's dinner tomorrow, and we know what the cuisine will be.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/hDhs4mXpLE
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) February 18, 2021
Jokingly, Osaka mentioned maybe her devouring Greek cuisine played its part in Tsitsipas outlasting Nadal and herself beating Williams. With the crowds laughing over her story, Osaka funnily said maybe she should keep eating Greek food.
“Yesterday I decided to eat Greek food. And then when I woke up, Tsitsi beat Nadal, so maybe this is a sign,” said Osaka.
Interestingly, Tsitsipas replied to the video uploaded on the official Twitter account of the Australian Open of Osaka’s comment over Greek food.
— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@steftsitsipas) February 18, 2021
Further, Osaka yet again expressed her admiration and respect for Williams, whom she’s often referred to as her childhood idol. The duo embraced each other at the net after the match, with Osaka bowing in front of Williams in an act of showing her reverence to the seven-time Australian Open champion.
Having booked her pace in the final, Osaka will face either Jennifer Brady or Karolina Muchova to slug it out for the title. The 23-year-old has never lost in a Grand Slam final yet. Will she lift her second title at the Australian Open?
