Naomi Osaka at the 2016 US Open
Naomi Osaka may not be known to many people, but on Saturday she will be playing in the U.S. Open women’s final.
The 20-year-old 20th seed from Japan defeated Madison Keys 6-2, 6-4 on Thursday to reach her first professional Grand Slam title match. The youngster, who grew up in the U.S., comes from a Japanese mother and Haitian father and idolized Serena Williams as a young child.
Williams and Osaka will be facing off in Saturday’s final, and after her semifinal victory on Thursday, the Japanese youngster took a moment to confess how she always dreamed of playing the American superstar. Osaka also adorably relayed the following message to Williams before laughing and covering her face: “I love you.”
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Osaka saved an amazing 13 break points against Keys on Thursday. Williams, the No. 17 seed, beat 19th-seed Anastasija Sevastova of Estonia 6-3, 6-0 on Thursday.
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Williams is seeking her seventh U.S. Open trophy and record-tying 24th Grand Slam title this year.
Osaka has already beat Williams this year: she did it at the Miami Open, although this was only Williams’ second tournament in her return to competitive tennis after giving birth in September 2017.
The women’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium will start at 4 p.m. EST on Saturday.
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