Fourth seed, Naomi Osaka of Japan, will face 8th seeded Czech, Petra Kvitova in Saturday’s women’s final at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne.
Osaka beat another Czech, 7th seed, Karolina Pliskova in the semi-finals while Kvitova disposed of American, Danielle Collins. Meanwhile, 2nd seeded Spaniard, Rafael Nadal, booked his place in Sunday’s men’s final.
Nadal beat young Greek star, Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets. As expected, the clash between Osaka and Pliskova was closely contested. Osaka was in complete control of the first set, hitting 16 winners to four to quickly bag it 6-2.
Pliskova broke the Osaka serve in the 10th game to win it 6-4 and take the clash into a decider. The third set was another nail-biter but the US Open champion prevailed. She won it 6-4 despite a ferocious onslaught from the Czech.
Earlier,the match between Kvitova and Collins at the Rod Laver Arena started in extreme heat. This led to the roof being closed at 4-all in the first set.
The set, which lasted just more than an hour, went all the way to the tie-break, which Kvitova easily won.
The two-time Wimbledon champion then clinched the second 6-love to reach her first final in Melbourne and first grand slam final since being stabbed by a knife wielding intruder in her home in 2016.
“It means everything. That’s why I worked really hard to be in the finals of the tournament, the finals of a major. Finally, I could make it deep into this major and I will really enjoy the final. Whatever happens, I’m already very, very happy,” says 8th seed Petra Kvitova.
Nadal’s shot-making was brilliant in his clash against Tsitsipas. He recorded a comfortable 6-2, 6-4, 6-love victory to advance to his fifth final in Melbourne.
The Spaniard will face the winner of Friday’s second semi-final between top seeded Serb, Novak Djokovic and Frenchman, Lucas Pouille.
