21:38
“It means a lot to me,” says Osaka of her return to the US Open final. “I consider New York somewhat my second home. I really like the atmosphere although unfortunately there are no people here, I feel this court really suits me.”
When asked what is most comforting about the reaction to her decision to wear masks displaying the names of black Americans who have been wrongfully killed by police or civilians, Osaka is at the center of the matter.
“For me, I feel like knowing that I reach people,” she says. “I feel like I’m in this bubble I’m not really sure what’s going on in the outside world. Even a couple of days ago when I got the video messages [from the parents of Trayvon Martin and Ahmaud Arbery]For me, it was really touching. Everyone I knew cried. Just knowing that people hear my voice. “
Updated
21:27
Osaka wins 7-6 (1), 3-6, 6-3!
Group C: Brady 6-7, 6-3, 3-6 Osaka
Brady wins the first point with a forehand strike at a sharp angle that Osaka cannot reach. Osaka wins the next match with a massive 15-man backhand, but makes her first double foul of the night for a 15-30 run, and Brady is two points off the break. But Osaka came back with a 116-mph victory and then a forehand kick from the ground to clinch the match point. Osaka turned it with a curved shot that Brady could not recover. She is back in the US Open Final for the second time in three years!
21:21
Group C: Brady 6-7, 6-3, 3-5 Osaka *
Brady and Osaka hold a spot in Saturday’s final.
21:16
Group C: Brady 6-7, 6-3, 2-5 Osaka
Brady is running out of chances to equalize this match with Osaka not winning serves. Another comfortable contract for the 22-year-old and Brady will remain in the tournament after changing endings.
21:13
Group C: Brady 6-7, 6-3, 2-4 Osaka *
Creaking time as Brady descends in love with her 30’s. She hit the ace but another winner in Osaka pushed it 15-40. Brady wipes out breakout points with a winner and another ace. She held a third point moments later before escaping comment. Osaka with 12 winners and four fouls in effect in this group.
21:06
Group C: Brady 6-7, 6-3, 1-4 Osaka
Osaka is supporting the break in convincing fashion, winning 4 winners including her ninth ace on her way to direct control. An indispensable game for Brady after the change.
21:02
Osaka breaks in the fourth half of the third set!
Group C: Brady 6-7, 6-3, 1-3 Osaka *
Brady wins the opening point in her service with a winning front kick air shot. Osaka, however, scored a quick three points, which made her first chance to break the match at 15-40. And she benefits when Brady makes a non-compulsive foul from a backhand. Osaka takes the lead in this deciding set while Brady is finally flashing a serving.
21:00
Group C: Brady 6-7, 6-3, 1-2 Osaka
Three other winners for Osaka, who carries easily. It’s up to 25 nights for 11 unintended mistakes. Brady has 28 winners and 20 spades. The sound of rain in torrents reverberated on the roof all over the nearly empty stadium.
Updated
20:53
Group C: Brady 6-7, 6-3, 1-1 Osaka *
Brady is pushed to the Devil for the second time only in 12 service games. A foul in Osaka gives her a point in the match, but Brady commits her second double foul of the match for the Devil. From there Brady answers with a winner of 117 MPH Service and Non-Returnable 114 MPH Service.
20:50
Group C: * Brady 6-7, 6-3, 0-1 Osaka
Osaka flies into the opening match of the third service, holding on to love.
20:45
Brady wins the second set, 6-3!
Group B: Brady 6-7, 6-3 Osaka
Brady wasted no time shutting down the set, racing to an easy fix. We’re headed to a course at Flushing Meadows!
20:43
Brady breaks the eighth in the second group!
Group B: Brady 6-7, 5-3 Osaka
The moment Osaka pressed her into the role of Brady, who swings with great confidence, propelled her to 30 players. She won the next point to earn her first breakout chance tonight … and turned it around after getting the best of his 18-shot rally, the longest in the match. Suddenly, Brady will serve to the group and to force the decision maker.
20:40
Group B: Brady 6-7, 4-3 Osaka *
… and Brady rolls out another commercial contract of her own. Still sending in a second.
20:40
Group B: Brady 6-7, 3-3 Osaka
Close to love, Osaka breaks down its seventh and eighth squares at night all the way …
20:34
Group B: Brady 6-7, 3-2 Osaka *
Brady raced to 40 loves with winners 18, 19 and 20 tonight, then grabbed a clever shot into the net. She had 22 wins to 16 easy fouls compared to 16 and seven for Osaka, respectively.
20:32
Group B: * Brady 6-7, 2-2 Osaka
Osaka is forced to lose a second serve all night only, but she holds up comfortably from there.
20:20
Group B: Brady 6-7, 2-1 Osaka *
Brady likes to keep up with Osaka. They both were practically flawless in sending him through the night with one break point in between.
20:18
Group B: * Brady 6-7, 1-1 Osaka
More commanding service from Osaka, which shuts down another easy-grip ace 118 mph down the tube. She won 24 of 26 first service points (92%) tonight.
20:15
Group B: Brady 6-7, 1-0 Osaka *
Brady needed a positive service game after she objected to being sent slightly in that breaker of the first set, produced, sailing on a stress-free stop to open the second. Very high quality on both ends.
20:09
Osaka wins first set 7-6 (1)!
The tiebreak in the first set: Brady 1-7 Osaka
Osaka won the first point on serving, then rose in the first half after Brady failed in the midst of a 16-round exchange at the next point. Brady tracks a service winner 111 mph for 1–2, but finds herself at a disadvantage early on. Osaka takes care of the next two points on her racket. Brady, serving 1-4, then made another non-compulsory foul, costing a forehand, and the second half dropped as the player turnover ended. Osaka hit a winning frontal kick at the next point and would have five fixed points, the first two points on her racket. But the 2018 US Open champion only needs one of them, crushing a thunderbolt 120 mph down the middle Brady can’t get back on the field. What a group and what a break break for Osaka, who is one group final.
Updated
20:01
Group A: Brady 6-6 Osaka
Brady opened her fifth card, but a pair of Osaka winners pushed her 30 times and suddenly Osaka was two points off the set. But Brady holds on her nerves and wins the next two points to force the ripper.
20:01
Group A: * Brady 5-6 Osaka
Osaka bears love-15 down, cracking her four night aces along the way. Brady will force the tiebreak in the first set after changing ends.
19:53
Group A: * Brady 4-5 Osaka
Osaka keeps the love, breaking 116 mph with the body to lock it up. She scored 16 out of 17 on first serve so far, which is an impressive 94% clip. Brady will remain in the first set after the changeover.
19:49
Group A: Brady 4-4 Osaka *
Osaka won the first point on Brady serving, and had the best 12-shot rally, the longest in the match so far. Brady won by three quick points, but Osaka pity him. From there the Brady slots in two non-returnable transmissions. On our way, on posting on first. And yes, Corday is in the building.
Updated
19:44
Group A: * Brady 3-4 Osaka
Osaka shines, winning a forehand, fast on the top three, and looks like she’s committed to grabbing it easily. But Brady pushes it back and earns her first break opportunity at night with a backhand winner. Osaka saves her by sending a winner on the second serve, then drops two quick points to escape waiting.
19:39
Group A: Brady 3-3 Osaka *
Brady tours another business-like ride, covering it with a force of 112 mph down the center.
19:35
Group A: * Brady 2-3 Osaka
Brady put some pressure on Osaka’s serve after taking a fore-kick to a 15-30 goal. But Osaka maintains a relief from there. Still in the transmission in the introductory set.
19:32
Group A: Brady 2-2 Osaka *
An early chance for Osaka to serve Brady as the American made a non-compulsive foul with a forehand followed by her first double foul of the night. But Brady wins with a fast four points from there, closing control with a front blow and 113 mph wide.
19:19
Group A: * Brady 0-1 Osaka (* indicates the next server)
Osaka, who has performed well in her five wins so far, sails in the opening service match, finishing off her love with a clear front kick from the baseline.
19:19
The players took on the field due to the warm-up operations. Osaka wears a face mask as Philando Castile, the 32-year-old black driver who was shot dead by a Minnesota police officer in 2016.
18:59
Hello and welcome to Arthur Ashe’s Stadium in the US Open Women’s semi-finals tonight. Naomi Osaka and Jennifer Brady are set to meet for the first game tonight, followed by a private meeting between Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka in the Night Cup.
Osaka and Brady should be on the field an hour after the warm-up starts. Meanwhile, here’s a glimpse of the four semi-finalists tonight in numbers:
12:16
Brian will be here soon. Meanwhile, here’s Naomi Osaka’s performance in her final match:
Naomi Osaka continued to confirm her place as the best candidate to win the US Open title, winning her ninth consecutive match since the tour resumed, to move to the semi-finals with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Shelby Rogers.
“I feel good,” said Osaka afterwards. “I think all the games were really difficult. The result might not indicate that, but I had some really difficult matches. I think that made me really happy to be in the position now.”
Osaka entered court wearing a mask bearing the name of George Floyd, whose murder at the hands of the police had spurred her activism. She previously pumped out the names of Elijah Maclean, Ahmed Arberry, Trifon Martin and Briona Taylor, all of which are high profile cases of blacks unfairly killed by police or civilians. After the match, ESPN Broadcast messages From Arbery’s father and Martin’s mother in Osaka.
“I was trying really hard not to cry,” said Osaka. “To me it’s a bit surreal. It’s very touching for them to feel influenced by what I do. For me, I feel like what I’m doing is nothing. It’s an iota of what I can do. It was really emotional. I feel, I don’t know, after seeing it, At first I was in shock. Now that I’m here and I’ve taken the time, I don’t know, I’m really grateful and I’m really humbled. ”
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