Naomi Osaka powered her way into a third Grand Slam final after an intense, heavy-hitting and extraordinarily high-level US Open semi-final tussle with Jennifer Brady.
Osaka, the fourth seed from Japan, has never lost a match beyond the last of a major and maintained that run to put herself within touching distance of a third Slam title.
Her opponent Brady, the 28th seed from Pennsylvania, more than played her part in a fast-paced encounter under the closed Arthur Ashe Stadium roof, where two phenomenal ball strikers took chunks out of each other.
Against most opponents on the planet, she surely would have been moving on to her first major final. But Osaka, the highest-paid female athlete on the planet, is no ordinary player and she will bid for her second US Open title after a win in two hours and nine minutes.
This court really suits me well. Her final opponent will be decided later on Thursday night, with Serena Williams taking on fellow former Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka. She will hope for a tamer affair on Saturday, although the straight sets win would no doubt be welcomed.
