Osaka hopes Serena will play forever

In the Australian Open semifinals, Naomi Osaka ended Serena Williams' bid for a 24th Grand Slam with a 6-3, 6-4 win. Overcoming a slow start, Osaka took control of the match with 20 winners to Serena's 12, and threw in six impeccable aces.

"I was definitely really nervous, I don't know," Osaka said of nearly 0-3 start. "It's very intimidating to serve for the first game and see her on the other side of the net."

Serena hit twice as many unforced error as winners, and was disappointed with her performance, to say the very least. Just over three minutes into her post-match press conference, she left the room in tears.

The 39-year-old had exited the court quickly, yet paused long enough to put her hand over her heart and soak in the moment in front of the crowd, which had tried its best to propel her to a third set.

The poignant moment led everyone to speculate that she was saying goodbye.

"I don't know. The Aussie crowd is so amazing, so it was nice to see," Serena said. "If I ever say farewell, I wouldn't tell anyone. So..."

She then posted this message on Instagram:

Osaka, for her part, hopes her idol play forever. She had this to say when a reporter pointed out that "there's no telling how much longer Serena will play."

"I think, of course, every time I play her, I feel like it's something I'll definitely remember a lot," the world No. 3 said. "I don't know, it's kind of sad when you say it like that because for me, I want her to play forever. That's the little kid in me."

The 23-year-old will play first-time Grand Slam finalist Jennifer Brady for the title.