MELBOURNE, January 24, 2019

Naomi Osaka defeated Karolin Pliskova 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to advance to her first Australian Open final. The No. 4 seed from Japan fired 15 aces and 56 winners to secure victory in one hour and 53 minutes on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday evening.

Reigning US Open champion Osaka has built a 13-match winning streak at Grand Slam tournaments and will next meet Petra Kvitova having the chance to clinch a second straight major title. The last player to win back-to-back Grand Slam trophies was Serena Williams in 2015.

Earlier in the day, No.8 seeded Kvitova has made her return into a Grand Slam final for the first time since 2014. The 28-year-old from the Czech Republic ended unseeded US-American Danielle Collins’ dream run in Melbourne this fortnight.

“Finally, I have made it deep here at this major and I will enjoy the final. Whatever happens I’m already very, very happy,” Kvitova said.