Serena Williams broke down in tears after losing 6-3, 6-4 to Naomi Osaka in the Australian Open semi-finals. The defeat ended Williams' bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title. "It was a big error day for me today," the 39-year-old said after the match at Rod Laver Arena. Asked if it was just a bad day, Williams said: "I don't know. I'm done," before leaving the room. The Japanese third seed, champion in Melbourne two years ago, overcame a nervous start to wrap up a hugely impressive win. The numbers were in Williams' favour; the American had won all her previous eight semi-finals at Melbourne Park, had not lost to a top-three player at a grand slam since 2007, and had beaten Osaka in their last two meetings to gain a measure of revenge for her acrimonious defeat in the 2018 US Open final. Perhaps mindful of that, Osaka looked uncharacteristically tight at first in front of a limited crowd, allowed back in after Victoria's five-day coronavirus lockdown was lifted. She struggled with her ball toss in the direct sunlight and double-faulted on her way to dropping serve in the opening game. Williams, by contrast, began with an ace and a confident hold before Osaka wriggled out of another break point, an ace getting her on the board. That seemed to click the 23-year-old into gear, and as her timing returned Williams' deserted her, the first set quickly disappearing as Osaka won five games in a row and held her nerve to serve it out at the tricky end. A sizzling crosscourt backhand secured another break for Osaka at the start of the second with Williams becoming more animated, at one point bellowing "make the shot" at herself. Osaka had won eight out of nine games before Williams could stem the flow with a hold for 1-2. A nasty dose of the Osaka jitters allowed Williams back in for 4-4, but the third seed promptly broke back to love and this time nervelessly wrapped up victory in an hour and 15 minutes. Osaka said on court: "I was really nervous and scared in the beginning but I eased my way into it. "It was about having fun and it was the first day having a crowd for a while. It's an honour to play her and I didn't want to go out really bad so I just tried my best. "I was a little kid watching her play so coming up against her on the court for me is a dream." Jennifer Brady ensured there would be an American in the final after Williams' exit by downing Karolina Muchova 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Brady dug herself out of a mid-match hole to reach her first grand slam decider and a daunting title clash with Osaka. Brady saw four match points slip as she served it out nervously but finally celebrated the win when Muchova fired a forehand long. Brady slumped on to the court as a capped crowd cheered, and she was still overcome with the moment in her on-court interview. "I can't feel my legs. My legs are shaking, my heart is racing. I am so nervous," the 25-year-old said. "I came out a little strange today, super excited but at the same time I was pretty flat footed. "My legs felt fresh but at the same time they just weren't moving. I felt like I was stuck in mud so I didn't really pick up my intensity until the beginning of the third set."
