Australian Open 2021 day 11, semi-finals: Naomi Osaka v Serena Williams – live! Sports

by











3:30 AM

First set: Naomi Osaka * 1-2 Serena Williams Osaka has the advantage and finally steps onto the scoreboard. This game has gone a bit crazy with a few casual mistakes in the mix. And the Japanese star double faults. She’s nervous, a little nervous. But a signature bait helps her.











3:25

First set: Naomi Osaka 0-2 Serena Williams * Osaka clearly hasn’t found a rhythm yet. Perhaps more accurately, she didn’t get a chance as Williams is the aggressor in the chase of a 30th grand slam final and 24th singles title, racing to 40-0 in a rally that ends with a smash. A casual mistake gives Osaka a lifeline, but this is the only mistake.











3:22

First set: Naomi Osaka * 0-1 Serena Williams What an opening game for Williams. Osaka serves with power, but the American adapts and educates her. She has two breakpoints and only needs one. What an early statement.











3:14

And here they are introduced and heated up (also thanks to a quick refresh of my feed). Not long to go.




Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka emerges in the sunlight at Rod Laver Arena. Photo: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

Updated











3:11

Well, the players still have to appear on center court, despite it being after 2pm. We can see from the broadcast feed that they are heating up in the exchange rooms below.











2:55

And here’s something to read while you wait to tickle your taste buds ahead of tonight’s match between Novak Djokovic and THAT Russian qualifier named Aslan. He also has a surname, Karatsev, but frankly, he doesn’t need it.











2:53

Emma Kemp

For those who haven’t seen the 2018 US Open final, this pair endured controversy while on the pitch together. In that decision maker at Flushing Meadows, where Williams, after receiving three critical code violations, called the chair umpire a “thief” and imploded in the second set while Osaka had the guts to win. Williams then had to stop fans with booing at the Osaka trophy ceremony.

Of course, that was actually the first thing Williams was asked after beating Simona Halep in the quarter-final on Tuesday, and had nothing but praise for Osaka.

“I’ve looked at her and I’m sure she’s looked at me, and I feel like this is such a good opportunity for me to keep doing my best,” she said.

The pair have faced each other in the meantime, with Williams emphatically beating Osaka in 2019 in Toronto.

In other words, this can be anyone’s.











2:43

Jonathan Howcroft

Today is a picture in Melbourne Park. The temperature is around 30 ° C, kept in check by a gentle breeze that rustles the leaves in the stately gum trees next to Court 5. In Garden Square, those present lounge next to a rippling fountain. After the five-day lockdown, there is a relaxed holiday mood around the police station.

For the first time at this event, visitors are free to roam the grounds. The three walled zones have been removed, and only two locations are now in use for the business end of the tournament. Instead, each session is capped at 7,477. Most of those for this daylight section are about to enter the Rod Laver Arena for the women’s semi-final between Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams.




Tennis fans.

Fans! True tennis fans. Photo: Andy Brownbill / AP

Updated











2:42

Preamble

Emma Kemp

The sun shines. The mercury hovers around 30 degrees. There are no more new locally acquired Covid cases in Victoria. And crowds have re-entered Melbourne Park with empty stands for the first time in five days. You could say it’s pretty sweet at the Australian Open on day 11 of the first grand slam of the year. How can it ever get better? What is that, you say? A delicious women’s semi-final with two of the best and most entertaining players in the world? Oh lord, yes please.

Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka are first at the Rod Laver Arena today, where they will cancel it for a place in Saturday’s final. Williams, of course, is chasing a record equal to 24th grand slam title and has so far given evidence in Melbourne that this could be the tournament where she finally draws a draw with Margaret Court.

#AusOpen
(@Australian Open)

* So * many hissing points have ended @Serena Williams‘racket these two weeks.

Here’s 3️⃣! #AusOpen # AO2021 pic.twitter.com/70wVNFGFJw


February 18, 2021

But there is a major obstacle in her path in the form of Osaka, who has been in top form for a while and looks set to add a fourth grand slam title to her burgeoning collection. It is a potential classic in the making. Do not go anywhere.

Being hot on their heels Jennifer Brady and Karolina Muchova, in which, it is fair to say, is a much less widely anticipated encounter, though intriguing nonetheless. And to wrap up this evening’s play, Men is No. 1 Novak Djokovic and Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev

Strap yourself in. And contact us if you want; email [email protected] or tweet @emmavkemp

Source