Osaka on red alert for dangerous rivalry clash

Japanese star Naomi Osaka didn't need to look ahead in her draw to know she faces a blockbuster semi-final against either Serena Williams or Simona Halep.

It's a match up so mouthwatering that "everyone's been telling" her what was ahead if she won her quarter-final against tricky Chinese Taipei veteran Hsieh Su-wei, which she duly did in straight sets, 6-2 6-2 today.

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Naomi Osaka ends fairytale run of Su-Wei Hsieh in quarter-final

Although she is just 23 and Williams is 39 the pair have built a captivating rivalry since Osaka burst onto the scene, ignited in spectacular fashion by arguably the most controversial Grand Slam final in history, the 2018 US Open final.

Osaka's breakthrough major win was tainted by an almighty Williams blow-up who became irate at the perception that she was a cheat when she copped a code violation for coaching when momentum had swung against her.

The Japanese star conducted herself remarkably well through the storm, particularly for someone so young, and despite admitting that the controversy had swallowed up the joy she felt after lifting her first major trophy, it has not had any negative long-term impact on her relationship with the legendary Williams.

In fact, Osaka talks about her with admiration every time she's brought up in interviews, using her on-court interview after her victory against Hsieh to reveal she doesn't always watch her opponents play but makes an exception for Serena.

"Honestly, I know my next opponent is Serena-Halep and I always watch Serena play anyways," Osaka said.

"But normally I don't look at my draw but everyone's been telling me my draw here so I kind of had no choice but to know who my next opponent is. But definitely it's going to be really fun."

Naomi Osaka is interviewed after winning her Australian Open quarter-final.

Fun? Perhaps. Absolutely absorbing, especially if it's Serena on the other side of the court? You bet.

Williams has been in sizzling form since stepping out of quarantine in Australia and for the first time since she returned following child birth she looks 100 percent fit and a force to be reckoned with.

A potential match-up with Osaka, should Williams get through Halep, which is nothing close to a certainty, would have all the ingredients to provide the match of the tournament.

Yet, Osaka would rightly start that match as a warm favourite. Now a three-time Grand Slam champion, Osaka is given that tag just about every time she steps on court and she showed why again in her quarter-final.

Hsieh has been arguably the fairytale story of the tournament, making her first Grand Slam quarter-final at the age of 35, but despite some outstanding victories in the first four rounds she was clearly outclassed by the world No.3.

Osaka, gracious as always, didn't see it that way when she described the match in her interview.

Naomi Osaka hits a backhand in her Australian Open quarter final.

"Every time I've played her it's been such a battle, even though the scoreline was like this it was such a battle again today," Osaka said.

"I guess just her shot making, she's able to hit winners from both sides and you never know when she's about to go for it, so definitely, I guess her shot making."

Osaka added that winning her quarter-final against Spanish star Garbine Muguruza after saving two match points and looking all but finished had given her a new lease on life.

"I wouldn't say it's easier but I would say it makes me feel a bit more calm," she said.

"Just knowing that my back was severely up against the wall I still had opportunities.

"So just knowing that, even today I had two match points and she saved them; normally I think I would have panicked but today I felt pretty calm."

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