Naomi Osaka on Thursday beat Serena Williams to reach the Australian Open final and keep up the hopes of a possible fourth Grand Slam title, reported AFP.

Osaka beat Williams 6-3, 6-4, shattering the American’s dream of a record-equalling 24th major title. The Japanese’s victory came at Rod Laver Arena in front of thousands of fans allowed back in after Melbourne lifted a snap five-day lockdown.

Osaka will now face either American Jennifer Brady or Czech Karolina Muchova on Saturday for another Slam title following her success at Flushing Meadows in 2018 and last year, and Melbourne in 2019.

Williams, who won her last major in Melbourne in 2017, is now stranded on 23 Grand Slam titles as she strives to match Margaret Court’s all-time record.

Following her win while pregnant in Australia four years ago, Williams has lost four Slam final including the heated 2018 US Open decider against Osaka.

Osaka said, “I hit a lot of unforced errors in the first few games, I was just really nervous and scared. But then I sort of eased my way into it and the biggest thing for me was having fun.”

She added, “For me, it’s always an honour to play her and I didn’t want to go out (of the tournament) really bad, so I just tried my best.”

Williams had won all eight of her previous semi-finals at Melbourne Park stretching back 18 years to when she beat Kim Clijsters on her way to her first title in Australia.

Her first ever Grand Slam semi, against Lindsay Davenport at 1999 US Open, was played when Osaka was just one.