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'Disturbing': Naomi Osaka explains 'weird' post-match message to sister

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor
·3-min read
Naomi Osaka, pictured here sending a message to her sister after winning through to the Australian Open final.
Naomi Osaka sent a message to her sister after winning through to the Australian Open final. Image: Getty

Naomi Osaka has explained her post-match message to sister Mari after beating Serena Williams to advance to the Australian Open final.

Osaka sent the 23-time major champion packing on Thursday with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-4 victory on Rod Laver Arena.

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As the Japanese star was leaving the court, she completed the now-customary tradition of signing a TV camera lens.

And in true Osaka fashion she got a little bit weird and wacky.

“Mari stop sending werid (sic) images in the groupchat!” she wrote, a message directed to her sister.

Speaking in her post-match press conference, Osaka explained what the message meant.

“She sends really weird images and apparently I spelled ‘weird’ wrong so my bad,” she said.

“She sends really strange images in the group chat to me and my friends.

"Sometimes it’s a bit disturbing but we love her either way.”

Mari responded by posting an example of the "weird' images she posts in the group chat.

Mari Osaka, pictured here posting an example of her weird messages.
Mari Osaka posted an example of her weird messages. Image: Instagram

Osaka to meet Jennifer Brady in Open final

Osaka grew up idolising Williams and said she hopes her grand slam career isn't close to finishing.

"It's kind of sad when you say it like that because, for me, I want her to play forever," Osaka said.

"That's the little kid in me.

"I was a little kid watching her play and just to be on the court playing against her is a dream.

"I felt it's like always a surreal moment, just to see her in real life, like close up, because I rarely see her, to be honest."

Osaka will now face Jennifer Brady in Saturday night's final after the American overcame Karolina Muchova and two weeks in hard quarantine.

Naomi Osaka's pointed message to her sister, pictured here at the Australian Open.
Naomi Osaka sent a pointed message to her sister at the Australian Open. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images)

It will be Brady's first grand slam final after the 25-year-old stopped Czech Muchova 6-4 3-6 6-4 in Thursday's thrilling second semi-final at Melbourne Park.

"I can't feel my legs," Brady said after needing five match points to put Muchova away.

"My legs are shaking, my heart is racing - I don't have words.

"I'm obviously pretty excited to be in the final of the Australian Open."

Brady described making the final at Melbourne Park as an "incredible achievement".

But it's all the more incredible after she was one of 51 players in the Open singles draw to be confined to their hotel rooms for 14 days after being on COVID-19 infected charter flights into Melbourne.

She said she tried to stay positive during the hotel stay but basically gave herself no chance of being in the title decider coming from so far behind.

"Even before quarantine, I didn't think I would be where I am right now," Brady said.

"I definitely feel I've earned the right to be playing in a grand slam final; I've put in a lot of work but I just think it's crazy to believe ... it's that the tables have turned and I'm here."

with AAP

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