Serena Williams cruised past Anastasija Sevastova on Thursday to enter the final of the US Open.
The six-time champion packed off 19th-seeded Sevastova 6-3, 6-0 in under 67 minutes to make it to her ninth final at the Flushing Meadows, in which she will face Japan's Naomi Osaka.
Serena, who had reached the final at Wimbledon this year, said it was incredible that she has reached the US Open final for the ninth time. She recalled that in the previous year, after giving birth to her daughter Olympia, she had undergone surgery for life-threatening blood clots.
Naomi Osaka, meanwhile, became the first Japanese woman to reach a grand slam final. She defeated last year's finalist Madison Keys 6-2, 6-4.
On managing to save all 13 break points she faced, Osaka said that she was driven by the thought of facing Serena in her first major final. The 20-year-old Japanese won her only match against Serena earlier this year when they faced each other in the first round of the Miami Open. It was Serena's second tournament since her return to competitive tennis after giving birth.
Serena will be looking to win a record-equalling 24th grand slam title when she meets Osaka in the final. Margaret Court holds the all-time record of 24 grand slam titles.
