via Getty
Naomi Osaka of Japan cries after winning the Women’s Singles finals match alongside runner up Serena Williams of the United States on Day Thirteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
via Getty
Naomi Osaka of Japan cries after winning the Women’s Singles finals match alongside runner up Serena Williams of the United States on Day Thirteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Serena Williams had an emphatic victory over World No.2 Simona Halep and proceeded to the semifinals of the Australian Open 2021. She will now play World No.3 Naomi Osaka in a high-profile clash.
In her post-match interview, Serena spoke about Naomi Osaka. She talked highly of the Japanese prodigy and the inspiring character she is.
“She’s such a strong player on the court, and she’s such an inspirational person I think off the court, which I think is really cool.
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“And it’s so good to see just someone that is so inspiring on both things, whether when they’re doing their job or they’re not doing the job and so that’s really, really cool for me,” said Serena.
via Reuters
Serena Williams of the U.S. in action during her quarter final match against Romania’s Simona Halep. REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Serena Williams on her Australian Open 2021
On her preparations, Serena indicated that she has been watching Osaka. Serena is looking at her young rival and already might have a game plan ready for the Japanese.
“And yeah, I’ve been watching her and I’m sure she has been watching me so you know I feel like this is such a good opportunity for me just to keep you know doing my best in the first Grand Slam of the year for me and had an incredibly long, arduous offseason and so I’m really happy.”
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Serena had a clean victory over Simona Halep. The scorecard read 6-3, 6-3. The American had a lot of winners and showed great defense to Halep’s baseline strokes.
via Reuters
Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates winning her quarterfinal match against Romania’s Simona Halep. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
Whereas Osaka defeated her unseeded Asian counterpart, Hsieh Su-wei. It was a straight-set victory and the scorecard read 6-2, 6-2. It was a typical Osaka victory with a high number of winners and disciplined gameplay.
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Further Australian Open 2021 clash with Osaka will be their first Grand Slam meeting since meeting in the US Open final in 2018. Osaka had won her first Grand Slam at that time, defeating Serena in straight sets in the controversial final. So the 2021 Aussie Open’s best match might be the semifinal clash between Serena and Osaka.
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