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

For those who have not watched the 2018 US Open final, these few endured controversy while on the track together. In the decision on Flushing Meadows, where Williams, after violating three core codes, called the referee a ‘thief’ and imploded in the second set while Osaka held her nerves to win. Williams then had to keep bending fans throughout the Osaka trophy.

Of course, that was basically the first thing Williams was asked after beating Simona Halep in the quarterfinals on Tuesday and only praising Osaka.

“I’ve been watching her and I’m sure she’s been watching me, and it feels like a good opportunity for me to keep doing my best,” she said.

The duo faced each other in the meantime, while Williams beat Osaka in Toronto by beating in 2019.

In other words, it can be anyone’s.

It’s picturesque at Melbourne Park today. The temperature is about 30 ° C, kept in check by a gentle breeze that rustles the leaves in the stately gum trees along court 5. In Garden Square, participants sit next to a putter fountain. There is a relaxed holiday mood around the district after the five-day lockout.

For the first time, there are attendees who grind freely on site. The three walled zones have been removed, with only two places now in use for the end of the tournament. Instead, crowds per session are limited to 7,477. Most of the day sections are about to enter Rod Laver Arena for the women’s semifinal between Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams.

The sun is shining. The mercury hovers around the 30C mark. There is no new local Covid case in Victoria again. And crowds were allowed into Melbourne Park’s empty pitches for the first time in five days. You could say that things were quite sweet during the 11th year of the first Grand Slam year during the Australian Open. How can things go better? What is it, you say? A mouth-watering semifinal for women with two of the best and most entertaining players on the planet? Oh delicious, yes please.

Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka is today for the first time at the Rod Laver Arena, where they are going to scrape it away for a spot in Saturday’s final. Williams, of course, is chasing a 24th grand slam title that has reached record highs and has so far given all indications in Melbourne that it could very well be the tournament where she will eventually draw with Margaret Court.

But there is a significant obstacle in her way in the form of Osaka, which was also in the best shape and able to add a fourth grand slam title to her budding collection. This is a potential classic in the making. Do not go anywhere.

Hot on their heels is Jennifer Brady and Karolína Muchová, in what is a much less expected encounter, it is fair to say, though one that is nevertheless interesting. And to round off the day’s game tonight, men’s no. 1 Novak Djokovic and Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev.

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