Serena Williams took control early in Thursday's Australian Open showdown with Naomi Osaka.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner broke Osaka in the first game of the match and faced a chance to take a 3-0 lead with a break point on Osaka's second serve. Then, the 23-year-old presumed heir to Williams' throne took over.
Osaka saved the break point to win the first of five straight games en route to a dominant 6-3, 6-4 win to advance to the Australian Open final. There, she'll seek her fourth Grand Slam title and her second Australian Open crown.
Williams came into the match on a tear, fresh off a straight-sets win over World No.