Australian Open 2021: Serena Williams up against Naomi Osaka in semis, Novak Djokovic to face Aslan Karatsev
Naomi Osaka has won 19 consecutive matches but none of those wins came against Serena Williams.
A quick look at the Australian Open:
LOOKAHEAD TO THURSDAY
Naomi Osaka has won 19 consecutive matches but none of those wins came against Serena Williams. Three-time major champion Osaka will meet 23-time Grand Slam singles title winner Williams in the Australian Open semifinals on Thursday. This will be their fourth matchup. The most memorable was Osaka’s victory in the 2018 U.S. Open final, which ended with both players in tears during the trophy ceremony. That was one of Williams’ four losses in Grand Slam finals since her last major championship, which came in Australia in 2017. Jennifer Brady faces Karolina Muchova in the other women’s semifinal. Novak Djokovic will continue his bid for a ninth Australian Open title and 18th Grand Slam trophy overall when he plays 114th-ranked Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev in the day’s lone men’s semifinal. The 27-year-old Karatsev is the first man in the professional era to reach the semifinals of his first career appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament. He has eliminated three seeded opponents already, but nothing is tougher at Melbourne Park than trying to beat Djokovic, who is 16-0 in Australian Open semifinals and finals.
THURSDAY'S FORECAST
Sunny, high of 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit)
WEDNESDAY’S WEATHER
Sunny, high of 29 Celsius (85 Fahrenheit).
WEDNESDAY’S KEY RESULTS
Women’s Quarterfinals: No. 25 Karolina Muchova beat No. 1 Ash Barty 1-6, 6-3, 6-2; No. 22 Jennifer Brady beat Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Men's Quarterfinals: No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas beat No. 2 Rafael Nadal 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 7-5; No. 4 Daniil Medvedev beat No. 7 Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-3, 6-2.
STAT OF THE DAY
1978 — The last time an Australian won a singles championship at the Australian Open; Chris O'Neil won the women's title that year. Barty was the last man or woman from the host country in singles this year.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“It’s heartbreaking, of course ... but the sun will come up tomorrow. You’re either winning or you’re learning, and today is a massive learning curve for me.” — Barty, after her quarterfinal exit.