Osaka realises dream of facing her idol

– Naomi Osaka told US Open final opponent Serena Williams “I love you” just moments after she became the first Japanese woman to reach a Grand Slam final.

The 20-year-old swept into the record books and today’s championship match against the 23-time Slam winner with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Madison Keys, the runner-up here last year.

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

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

New York

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 Indian Wells event in California.

Today 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.

“Just the fact that it’s happening, I’m very happy about it. At the same time I feel like even though I should enjoy this moment, I should still think of it as another match.”

The contrast today cannot be greater.

Serena will be playing in her 31st Grand Slam final and ninth at the US Open where she is a sixtime champion.

When the American, 16 years her senior, won her first US Open in 1999, Osaka was not yet two years old. –