MELBOURNE, Australia – Once again, Serena Williams reached a record of 24 Grand Slam title draws, playing well enough on Thursday to reach the final days of a major tournament. And once again, Williams failed to do so, as she was defeated 6-3, 6-4 by Naomi Osaka in the semifinals of the Australian Open.
Osaka, who also defeated Williams in the chaotic final of the US Open in 2018, reached the fourth match in the major title and extended its series of victories to 20 matches, collecting the last eight points.
“I don’t know if there are small children out here today, but I was a small child watching her play,” said Osaka, 23, of Williams, 39, “and just to be on playing field against her, for me, is a dream. “
Osaka will face in the final with seed no. 25, Karolina Muchova, or with the 22nd ranked American Jennifer Brady in the final.
Osaka’s Grand Slam collection, number 3, also includes last year’s US Open and 2019 Australian Open and is without a doubt the most dangerous player in the women’s field at the moment.
It was Williams, of course. But she was too much of a target in this contest, finishing with twice as many unforced errors, 24, as winners, 12.
“I could have won. I could have had 5-Love,” said Williams, who took a 2-0 lead from the start before giving up the next five games. “I just made so many mistakes.”
Her lead, in particular, broke down, with no less than 10 unforced errors in that part only in the first set.
“Too many mistakes there,” she said. “Slight mistakes.”
Williams’ frustration was highlighted at the beginning of the second set, when he bent down and shouted, “Take a shot! Take a shot!”
After picking up her 23-year-old trophy at Melbourne Park in her late 2017, Williams reached four major finals and lost them all.
He also now lost in the semifinals twice in that interval.
Osaka, 23, joined two other players to win each of the first two major matches against Williams. Williams’ sister, Venus, won the first three major meetings at the 1998 Australian Open, the 2000 Wimbledon and the 2001 US Open. The other is Jennifer Capriati at the 2001 French Open and the 2001 Wimbledon, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Spectators returned to the stands at the Rod Laver Arena on Thursday after being banned from participating in the tournament for five days during a local COVID-19 blockade. About 7,000 people were allowed in the stadium for Williams-Osaka, about half the capacity.
Ushers went through color changes to remind fans that they need to wear a mask or over their nose and mouth.
On the hottest day of the tough field tournament so far – 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius) – Osaka started with a shaky start, probably pushed into the pressing of its opening game by a winning winner back on the field Williams on the second point of the match.
It was followed by a double error, a wild forehand and, finally, a compensated backhand that handed over a break. Quickly, Williams went up 2-0, then had another break point with the chance to lead 3-0 after another double mistake by Osaka.
“I was very nervous and scared, I think, at first,” said Osaka, who was born in Japan and moved to the United States when he was 3 years old. “It simply came to our notice then. “
The Associated Press contributed to this report.