MELBOURNE (AUSTRALIA) – Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka might have had an unpleasant past at US Open title match, however, that will not dampen the suspense lying ahead of their blockbuster Australian Open semi-final on Thursday.
Williams was handed three code violations, the last one ended up in a game penalty, in a straight sets defeat to Osaka, who throughout the final game and trophy ceremony was subjected to an uneasy experience by an angry Flushing Meadows crowd.
The American, who later wrote an apology letter to Osaka, is looking forward to a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title and said she was awaiting the match, where she would be facing the Japanese third seed again.
The 39-year-old said, “Well, I think we both have had closure, and we have reached out to each other. I have definitely reached out.”
“I think she’s a great competitor and a cool cat.”
World number three Osaka has three Grand Slams to her credit and last year outperformed her childhood idol Williams as the world’s highest paid female athlete, as per Forbes.
The 23-year-old has won two of her three previous Tour encounters with Williams, although the latter triumphed the last time they met in a WTA event in Toronto in 2019.
When asked if she would prep up by watching film of Williams for the match, Osaka said she has never stopped watching and admiring her.
“For me, I grew up watching Serena… It’s just more of a habit than anything,” she added. “But I feel like everyone in the tournament watches her.”