Fourth seed Naomi Osaka prevailed over Karolina Pliskova on Thursday to set up an Australian Open final against Czech eighth seed Petra Kvitova.
The 21-year-old Japanese star overcame the seventh seed 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to reach a second straight Grand Slam final after her breakthrough victory over Serena Williams at last year’s US Open.
Osaka started strongly to take the first set as the match began with the roof of Rod Laver Arena closed amid sweltering temperatures exceeding 36 degrees Celsius.
Roars back
But Pliskova, who packed off Williams on Wednesday with an epic comeback to make the semifinals, roared back in the second before Osaka edged past her in the third.
“I expected it, I expected a really hard battle,” Osaka said of Pliskova’s attempt to come back from a set and a break down.
“I just told myself to regroup in the third set and try as hard as I could no matter what, and I managed to win.”
She said her win at Flushing Meadows helped settle her nerves against the never-say-die Czech.
“I was so scared serving second serves, I was like ‘Oh my God, please!’” she said. “I guess that’s experience, I don't know.
Osaka is bidding to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2015 to win the US and Australian Opens back to back.
She will also become the new World No. 1, replacing Romania’s Simona Halep, if she beats Kvitova in the final. Kvitova, who is on an 11-match winning streak will claim the top ranking if she lifts the trophy.
Pliskova was the bookies’ favourite for the title after her effort against Williams but made a slow start, hitting only four winners to Osaka’s 16 in the first set.
The fired up Japanese also dominated on serve as she ended Pliskova’s 10-match winning streak.
After blasting down an ace in her first service game, Osaka carved out three break points on Pliskova’s serve.
A blistering backhand gave her the advantage following a baseline slugfest with the Czech.
Pliskova double faulted to hand Osaka a second break and the Japanese star went on to serve out the set with an ace after 32 minutes.
The opening four games of the second set all went against serve as Pliskova threw everything at Osaka trying to find a way back into the match.
Osaka absorbed the pressure and continued to play her shots as the dogged Czech went on the attack.
She held on until two unforced errors, trailing at 5-4, handed a jubilant Pliskova the second set after 41 minutes.
Osaka managed a crucial hold as the third game of the third set turned into a seven-minute arm-wrestle, fending off three break points.
She then broke in the next game but Pliskova continued to press and the Japanese player had to see off break point with an ace before serving out the match.
She hit another ace on match point which was called out but successfully challenged the decision to ensure she made the final.
Kvitova storms through
Kvitova said she had proved the doubters wrong by reaching her maiden Australian Open final and the first in a Grand Slam since a knife attack derailed her career.
The two-time Wimbledon champion stormed past debutant Danielle Collins 7-6(2), 6-0 in the semifinal after the closure of the roof gave the Czech a boost.
Collins was matching Kvitova until play was interrupted late in the first set while the roof was closed.
Kvitova said until then she was struggling to find her best form.
“I’m really glad that it (form) came in the tie-break and in the second set,” she said.
“I think I was happier than the fans when the roof closed, I like to play indoors and I think that helped me a little bit.”
Collins , who had a dream run to make the final four on her Australian debut, became flustered after Kvitova won a first-set tie-breaker and her game fell apart in the second.
Kvitova had a dig at those who believed she would never again hit the heights she enjoyed before her life was turned upside down.
“It’s been a while. It’s been five years,” she said, referring to her last Grand Slam final.
No sweat for Nadal
Rafael Nadal handed rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas a tennis lesson as he drubbed him 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 in men’s semifinal.
The Spanish second seed has not dropped his serve for an astonishing 63 straight games and has not lost a set on his way to the final, where he will face either Novak Djokovic or Lucas Pouille.
“It’s been a great match, a great tournament,” Nadal said after a breathtaking display of almost perfect tennis.
The Results
Semifinals: Men: 2-Rafael Nadal (Esp) bt 14-Stefanos Tsitsipas (Gre) 6-2, 6-4, 6-0.
Women: 8-Petra Kvitova (Cze) bt Danielle Collins (USA) 7-6(2), 6-0; 4-Naomi Osaka (Jpn) bt 7-Karolina Pliskova (Cze) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
