Naomi Osaka says she “always dreamed” she would play her idol Serena Williams in a Grand Slam final after both reached this year’s US Open decider.

The 20-year-old became Japan’s first female Grand Slam finalist by defeating last year’s runner up Madison Keys 6-2 6-4 at Flushing Meadows in New York.

Six-time winner Williams is looking to match the record 24 Grand Slam titles won by Australian Margaret Court.

“I shouldn’t think of her as my idol, just as an opponent,” said Osaka.

“When I was a little kid I always dreamed I would play Serena in a Grand Slam final. At the same time I feel like even though I should enjoy this moment, I should still think of it as another match.”

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‘I love you Serena’

Osaka, who was aged just one when Williams won her first Grand Slam in 1999, is well-known for her entertaining interviews on the tour and in the past has discussed Netflix, memes and computer game Overwatch in news conferences.

After winning her first Masters title at Indian Wells earlier this year, she made what she described as “the worst acceptance speech of all time” – nervously saying her ‘thank yous’ before awkwardly lifting the trophy and posing for photographs.

Two years ago, she was asked a question about her career ambitions and responded by saying: “To be the very best, like no-one ever was.”

Realising she had caused confusion, she added: “That’s a Pokemon quote, I’m sorry. That’s the Pokemon theme song. But, yeah, to be the very best, and go as far as I can go.”

And after winning her semi-final win Osaka brought laughter from the crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium with her answers in her post-match interview…

Interviewer: Thirteen break points faced, 13 break points saved, how did you do that?

Osaka: This is going to sound really bad but I was just thinking I really want to play Serena.

Interviewer: Why?

Osaka: Because she is Serena. Like what do you mean?

Interviewer: What was going through your mind as you went to serve it out?

Osaka: Don’t double fault.

Interviewer: Perhaps a message for Serena?

Osaka: I love you.

How Osaka marched to the final

Osaka, who began the season as world number 68, steamrolled her way into her first Grand Slam semi-final with a 6-1 6-1 demolition of Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko.

And she saw off two Belarusians in the third and fourth rounds – demolishing Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-0 6-0 before dropping her only set of the tournament in a 6-3 2-6 6-4 win over 26th seed Aryna Sabalenka.

The Japanese youngster broke into tears of joy following that win over Sabalenka but remained calm after her victory in the semi-final.

“I believe that Naomi is one of those individuals who really craves the big stage,” said her coach Sascha Bajin, who used to work with Williams.

“She always plays better on the big stages than she does on any of the other courts. If she’s sad, she’s going to show it. If she’s happy, she’s going to show it. There are no fake emotions.”

A breakthrough year

The 20-year-old was born in Osaka, Japan and moved to New York aged three before relocating to Florida. Her father is Haitian and her mother is Japanese.

The dual-citizen says going to Japan feels like a “super-awesome vacation” rather than home, but will have the hopes of a nation behind her when she faces Williams.

By reaching the semi-finals alongside compatriot Kei Nishikori, it marked the first time that a male and female Japanese player had reached the final four in the same Grand Slam.

And Osaka will break into the world’s top 10 with victory in Saturday’s final – capping off a terrific year that started so well with the victory at Indian Wells in March.

On her way to that title in California, Osaka beat four seeded players, including world number one Simona Halep and fifth seed Karolina Pliskova, as well as five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova.

She also beat Williams in Miami in March – just two years after her first appearance at a Slam at the Australian Open.

She announced herself in New York last year when she caused an upset to knock out defending US Open champion and world number six Angelique Kerber in the first round.

Before reaching this year’s US Open final, Osaka’s best finish at a Grand Slam was in the fourth round of the Australian Open – she had never gone beyond the third round prior to that.

The view from Japan

Japanese tennis journalist Aki Uchida

She became famous in Japan especially after she won in Indian Wells – that was big news.

She is half Japanese and half Haitian-American so she doesn’t look typically Japanese but her name is very traditional Japanese. So that contrast between her looks and her name makes her even more charismatic to Japanese people. And the way she acts on court is very Japanese.

Japan is having a lot of typhoons and earthquakes so it’s not a time for the country to be very happy and excited about sport. But right after she won this match, I was getting text messages from friends back home saying ‘you’re in New York and Naomi just won!’ So based on that, I think people who are not always into tennis are interested in her.

Now she is famous in Japan. I think she is one of the most well-known female athletes now.

Former champions Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will bid to set up a 53rd meeting with victories in the US Open semi-finals on Friday.

The pair have met more than any two men in the Open era and could meet for a fourth time in a final in New York.

Spanish defending champion Nadal faces Argentine third seed Juan Martin del Potro in the last four as he aims for an 18th Grand Slam title.

Two-time winner Djokovic follows against Japan’s Kei Nishikori.

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Nadal and 2009 US Open champion Del Potro have met twice in Grand Slams this year, at the French Open and Wimbledon with Nadal winning on both occasions.

But the world number one has spent nearly four hours longer on court than Del Potro at Flushing Meadows, including a gruelling four-hour 49-minute marathon against Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals.

“It will be a very tough one,” three-time US Open winner Nadal said.

“At Wimbledon he’s a great player, he’s a great player everywhere. But the challenge of playing him on hard courts, of course, is even higher for me personally.

“I know that I will have to play at my highest level to keep having chances of success. I am focused on trying to make that happen.”

The pair’s meeting at Wimbledon in the quarter-finals lasted almost five hours with Nadal winning a thrilling fifth set.

“It could be another big battle, as the Wimbledon match was,” Del Potro said.

“Of course, I like to play always with the number one of the world, it doesn’t matter the tournament or the conditions.

“I just have the chance to play the greatest in this sport, and it’s amazing for me.”

Djokovic still going in ‘toughest’ US Open

Djokovic is aiming for a 14th Grand Slam title, which will take him level with American Pete Sampras in third in the men’s all-time list.

Temperatures have soared during the tournament and the Serb says the conditions have been the “toughest” he has faced at Flushing Meadows.

He has beaten 21st seed Nishikori in each of the pair’s last 13 encounters but lost their only meeting at the US Open, as Nishikori reached his only Grand Slam final in 2014.

“For sure it [the 2014 win] is going to give me good confidence, even though I didn’t remember,” Nishikori said.

“Maybe I will try to watch the match again.

“I don’t have a great record against Novak, but always it’s been a tough match the last couple of years.

“I’ve seen a chance, but I haven’t been able to make the last step.”

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British defending champions Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid’s wheelchair doubles semi-final was postponed because of poor weather at the US Open.

The second seeds were leading Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez and Japan’s Shingo Kunieda by one set after taking the first 7-5.

It was a gruelling first set which lasted one hour and 18 minutes.

The match was originally delayed because of extreme heat and then moved from Arthur Ashe Stadium to court 12.

Thunderstorms and rainfall meant all outside court matches were abandoned for the day, while the two women’s singles semi-finals were held under the roof of Arthur Ashe.

Britain’s Lucy Shuker and her partner Sabine Ellerbrock from Germany also had their women’s doubles semi-final against top seeds Diede de Groot and Yui Kamiji called off.

Compatriot Andy Lapthorne was also due to take on American top seed David Wagner in the men’s quad division.

All four British players will play in a packed schedule in New York on Friday.

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Serena Williams has another shot at winning her first Grand Slam title since giving birth after defeating Anastasija Sevastova in 66 minutes in their US Open semi-final.

Williams, beaten by Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final in July, won 6-3 6-0 against Latvian 19th seed Sevastova.

The 36-year-old American will play Japan’s Naomi Osaka in Saturday’s final after the 20th seed beat Madison Keys.

Victory will equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

“It is really incredible. A year ago I was literally fighting for my life at the hospital after having the baby,” said Williams, who missed last year’s US Open because of the birth of her child, Olympia.

“Every day I step out on this court I am so grateful to have an opportunity to play this sport.

“So no matter what happens in any match, I already feel like I have already won.”

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Serena in stats

• The American will compete in her 31st Grand Slam final and ninth US Open final.
• Having lost her past two semi-finals at Flushing Meadows, Williams will make her first appearance in the final since beating Caroline Wozniacki in 2014.
• The 17th seed has won the US Open a record-equalling six times – the same amount as compatriot Chris Evert.
• Williams will be the third oldest women’s Grand Slam finalist in the Open era and, if she wins, the oldest champion, overtaking her own record set at the 2017 Australian Open.

Williams close to her very best

Williams was out of the game for over a year after announcing her pregnancy in April 2017 and then giving birth last September.

Now, she is back playing at her home Grand Slam and looking close to her very best.

A dominant win over older sister Venus laid down a significant marker in the third round, before a straight-set win over Czech eighth seed Karolina Pliskova in the quarter-finals showed she was able to compete with the world’s best players once again.

That meant she came into her semi-final as the favourite against a player who had never before reached a Grand Slam semi-final.

But the ease with which she ran away with the match – winning 11 of the final 12 games and losing just 12 points in the second set – was startling.

“This is just the beginning. I’m only a few months in and really looking forward to the rest of the year and next year,” Williams said.

“I just feel like there’s a lot of growth still to go in my game. That’s actually the most exciting part.

“Even though I’m not a spring chicken, I still have a very, very bright future.”

Attacking Williams blunts Sevastova

Williams made a slow start in front of an expectant crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium, which had the roof closed because of rain and thunderstorms.

She lost her serve in the first game and trailed 2-0 before winning four in a row to take command.

I just usually come in to shake hands. I wanted to try something different and it worked in my favour

Williams started to find her range and her power could not be contained by Sevastova.

More striking was the former world number one’s willingness to come forward, approaching the net on 28 occasions and winning 24 of those points.

Once she took the first set in 39 minutes there was no way back for her 28-year-old opponent.

Williams hit 14 winners in the 25 points she needed to take the second set in 27 minutes.

“I’ve been working hard on my volleys,” Williams said of her aggressive gameplan. “I have won a few doubles championships, so I know how to volley.

“I just usually come in to shake hands,” she joked. “I wanted to try something different and it worked in my favour.”

Sevastova, who beat defending champion Sloane Stephens to reach the last four, said: “When she’s in front it’s tough to play. I tried on her games, but she served well – when somebody serves an ace at 123 miles per hour there’s not much you can do.”

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