I love you, Osaka’s message to Serena

● “It still feels a little bit, like, surreal. Even when I was a little kid, I always dreamed that I would play Serena in a final of a Grand Slam,” Naomi Osaka 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,” Serena said.

New York, Sept. 7: Naomi Osaka told US Open title opponent Serena Williams “I love you” just moments after she became the first Japanese woman to reach a Grand Slam final.

When asked on court what she told herself as she served for the match, she said: “Don’t double fault”.

“Why,” asked the interviewer. “Serena,” replied the charismatic Osaka.

“I love you, Serena,” she added before adding “I love you, mom; I love everybody.

Osaka, the 20th seed, has met and defeated Williams once — at Miami in March.

That win came just a week after she had lifted her first top- level trophy at the prestigious Indian Wells event in California.

Saturday will be the fulfilment of Osaka’s childhood dream of facing Williams in a Grand Slam final.

“It still feels a little bit, like, surreal. Even when I was a little kid, I always dreamed that I would play Serena in a final of a Grand Slam,” she said.

Meanwhile, Serena once again targets a record 24th Grand Slam singles title at the US Open on Saturday.

Win or lose, the US great says she’s just getting started in the latest phase

of her career.

“I’m still on the way up,” said the 36- year- old, who is playing her seventh tournament since the birth of daughter Olympia on September 1 2017.

“There’s still much more that I plan on doing,” she added.

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

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