Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka both made it through to their respective finals in the Australian Open this morning, both winning in straight sets. Osaka will face Jennifer Brady in the Women’s final on Saturday after Brady won in three sets against Karolina Muchova.
Novak Djokovic cruised through to his ninth Australian Open final beating Russian qualifier and world number 114 Aslan Karatsev.
The top seed won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 and is now looking to win his ninth Australian Open and 18th Grand Slam with a victory on Sunday against either Daniil Medvedev or Stefanos Tsitsipas who battle it out on Friday.
Tsitsipas is going into the semi-final off the back of his astonishing comeback on Wednesday against second seed Rafael Nadal beating him 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 7-5 in a game which lasted over four hours!
Meanwhile, Medvedev – who’s slight favourite going into the encounter with the Greek – is likely to be fresher after beating fellow Russian Andrey Rublev in straight sets in the quarter finals 7-5, 6-3, 6-2.
Djokovic had struggled with some abdominal pain earlier in the tournament, nearly having to retire against Taylor Fritz in Round Three, but the Serb looked fit against Karatsev, also saying after the match, “This is the best I have felt in the entire tournament. It felt great, I could swing through the ball and no pain. It was my best match so far and came at the right time. I’m thrilled.”
The 33-year-old’s confidence should be sky high ahead of the final, having only lost three times in the last decade at the Australian Open, with either Medvedev or Tsitsipas coming into the match as a massive underdog, neither having ever won a Grand Slam.
Serena Williams left her post match press-conference in tears after losing to Naomi Osaka in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. It was the first time Williams had lost an Australian Open semi-final.
Williams, now 39 years old, is one Grand Slam away from equalling Margaret Court’s record of 24, said after the match, “If I ever say farewell. I wouldn’t tell anyone.”
This came after the American was clearly emotional as she left Rod Laver Arena, waving to fans and her hand across her heart. Her best chance to win the 24th Grand Slam must surely come later in the year at Wimbledon, as everyone knows, never count Serena Williams out.
Osaka will now go into Saturday’s match against Jennifer Brady as favourite, with Brady the 22nd seed. The Japanese is aiming for her fourth Grand Slam victory and is currently on a 20 match unbeaten streak.
Osaka has won three Grand Slams in the past three years marking an extraordinary start to her career at 23 years old, having been the world number one at just 21.
Brady overcame Karolina Muchova to reach her maiden Grand Slam final, beating the Czech 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. The American dropped to her knees as she thought she had converted her second match point just for it to be call out. She was however, successful with her fifth match point which she converted.
Brady faced Osaka in the US Open semi-final last year, where Osaka came out victorious in three sets, a tournament Osaka later went on to win.
