US Open 2020, Jennifer Brady vs Naomi Osaka, Women's Semi-finals Live Updates: Osaka Takes 1st Set

Naomi Osaka takes the first set of the women's singles semi-final against Jennifer Brady 7-6(1) with the American's game tailing towards in the tiebreak. Osaka remained solid throughout the first set and took the lead in the tiebreak to get a lead in the match.

Osaka strikes first!

The No. 4 seed wins a dominant opening set tiebreak. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/UGwwj8eTVC

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2020

Set 1: Brady* 6-6 (1-5) Osaka | A good start from the fourth seed in the tiebreak where Brady has been mis-firing. Brady is going too hard on Osaka's second serves and sending it over instead.

Set 1: Brady 6-6 (1-2) Osaka* | Osaka started the tiebreak with a second serve the return of which Brady sprayed over. Osaka and Brady then engaged in a solid rally during which Osaka approached the net on a short ball and Brady hit the return into the net to give the Japanese the mini break.

Set 1: Brady 6-6 Osaka* | Brady starts off with a big first serve but then Osaka gets a bang on-line shot with pace make it 15-15. A good kick serve from Brady helps her get to 30-15. But a powerful backhand return from Osaka on Brady's second serve next makes it 30-30. Brady then went to the line on Osaka's backhand that the Japanese stretched to get but to no avail. Brady then held her serve as Osaka made an unforced error on her backhand.

We are into the tiebreak.

Set 1: Brady* 5-6 Osaka (* denotes next server) | With Osaka 30-15 up, Brady tried to go big on her second serve but sprayed her backhand return over. Osaka then got another first serve in and won the point with a big, flat forehand stroke.

Brady will once again serve to take the first set to the tiebreak.

Set 1: Brady 5-5 Osaka* | A powerful first serve down the T by Brady to start the service. She then went for another big first serve, moved Osaka around on the court well and then came forward to smash the forehand. With Brady 40-0 up, Osaka went on the aggressive on Brady's second serve and then targetted Brady's backhand incessantly to finally get a point. But Brady then held her serve immediately to level up the first set again.

Brady has been so solid on her serve so far that Osaka is yet to conjure a break point. Brady has had one.

Set 1: Brady* 4-5 Osaka | After a couple of tricky service holds for both the semi-finalists, Naomi Osaka holds her serve to love to lead once again in the first set. Now, Brady will serve to stay in the first set.

Naomi Osaka is currently on 94 per cent on her first serves while Brady is at 85 per cent. On second serves it is rather close with Japanese on 50 per cent and Brady on 46.

Will Naomi Osaka etch her name into #USOpen history again? pic.twitter.com/r6JZ6BXto4

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2020

Set 1: Brady 4-4 Osaka* (* denotes next server) | Osaka got the first point of the game as she made good use of the court to stretch Brady. But the American then eased to 40-15 up before Osaka went for big return on two of Brady's second serves to take it to deuce. Brady then managed another big first serve to get to advantage and then Osaka's return Brady's second serve into the net.

 Set 1: Brady* 3-4 Osaka | Osaka was 40-0 up when Brady decided to go hard with her baseline shots and suddenly made it tricky by levelling at 40-40. A good rally then ensued at the end of which Brady got her first break point with the net court helping her. Osaka, however, fended off the break point with a second serve out wide the return of which Brady sprayed over. Osaka then closed out the game to hold her serve.

A good service hold for the Japanese and knowing that Brady had a break point in this one can very much affect her next service game. Can Brady stay focussed on her own serve and forget about the opportunity she had on Osaka's serve?

Set 1: Brady 3-3 Osaka* | Osaka gets her teeth into Brady's third service game but at 40-30, Brady serves up another ace to get the job done. Solid so far from Brady and she's not showing much nerves despite being her first US Open semi-final.

Set 1: Brady* 2-3 Osaka (* denotes next server) | A competitive service game for Naomi Osaka where at one point Brady even led 30-15. However, a few big serves from the Japanese helped her hold her serve quite comfortably.

So far, both the players have been feeling each other, more or less. None have been very penetrative on the other's serve.

Making her voice heard. pic.twitter.com/QRLbxYTwqB

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2020

Set 1: Brady 2-2 Osaka* | Brady started the service tentatively missing forehand followed by a double fault to give Osaka a 30-0 advantage but then she made it to 30-30 with a big first serve that Osaka couldn't return followed by the Japanese hitting the forehand into the net.

At that stage, Brady went for a big first serve after which she came to the net and smashed a forehand and then served an ace out wide to close out the game.

Set 1: Brady* 1-2 Osaka (* denotes next server) | Osaka holds her serve with ease once again. Two service games and only a point lost for the Japanese. Osaka's first serves are helping her stay on course.

Jennifer Brady Holds Her Serve | Naomi Osaka did get a couple of points on Brady's serve but the American held her serve 40-30 and she wrapped up the game with an ace right after having to tie her shoelaces.

Set 1: Brady 1-1 Osaka

Naomi Osaka gets the women's singles against Jennifer Brady started. Without much fuss, she holds her serve to love to give herself a confident start to the match. Osaka's first serves are going to be key here.

Getting ready for a battle.@naomiosaka | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/iy1oGIIzzY

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2020

Naomi Osaka walked out of the court with her mask bearing the name of Philando Castile. The 32-year-old American was fatally shot by the Minnesota police officer Jeronimo Yanez on July 6, 2016.

.@naomiosaka walked out in a Philando Castile mask for her semifinal match in Arthur Ashe Stadium.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/zSm0Kp2hOt

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2020

What's the weather been like today in New York? It is humid and damp and the roof has been closed. It will be interesting to see if the humidity outside plays a part with the match being played in a closed-roof scenario.

"I honestly just think match play (has helped get better throughout the tournament). I have been fortunate to play a lot of matches here. All I have been focussed on this tournament has been having a positive outlook and that has worked for me so far."

"It's been spectacular. I have received so much support from family, friends, coaches, it's amazing. I think I am just gonna have to play my game, trust myself and believe I can win this match."

We are now just a few minutes away from the women's singles semi-final between Naomi Osaka and Jennifer Brady, which will be the third meeting between the two.

In the final match of the day, six-time US Open champion Serena Williams will take on two-time finalist at Flushing Meadows Victoria Azarenka. Both the finals that Azarenka lost in New York were to Serena Williams only. As Serena desperately eyes a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title, this is Azarenka's big chance for a revenge.

Pumped for the semifinals!

7 p.m. - 🇺🇸 Jen Brady vs. 🇯🇵 Naomi Osaka
To follow - 🇺🇸 Serena Williams vs. 🇧🇾 Victoria Azarenka#USOpen | @serenawilliams | @jennifurbrady95 pic.twitter.com/0hEFUFgpdo

— USTA (@usta) September 10, 2020

Here's how Jennifer Brady made her way to the US Open semi-finals:

Quarter-final: beat Yulia Putintseva 6-3, 6-2

Round 4: beat Angelique Kerber 6-1, 6-4

Round 3: beat Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-3

Round 2: beat CiCi Bellis 6-1, 6-2

Round 1: beat Anna Blinkova 6-3, 6-2

Here's how Naomi Osaka made her way to the US Open semi-finals:

Quarter-final: beat Shelby Rogers 6-3, 6-4

Round 4: beat Anett Kontaveit 6-3, 6-4

Round 3: beat Marta Kostyuk 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-2

Round 2: beat Camila Giorgi 6-1, 6-2

Round 1: beat Misaki Doi 6-2, 5-7, 6-1

Naomi Osaka is surely the favourite going into the US Open women's singles semi-final against Jennifer Brady. The ladies have played each other only twice with both winning one match each.

First 👏 women's 👏 semifinal 👏

Drop your predictions for Osaka 🆚 Brady ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/d496pX2uat

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2020

"I want to get to the finals," Naomi Osaka said. "I want to win the trophy. That's why I'm here."

Osaka also said she was feeling more positive. "I feel like if I'm positive, no matter how much time it will take, I'll eventually get to where I want to be," said Osaka on Tuesday in New York. "There's a certain mindset that I have to get to in order to get to the goals that I want. But it does feel like a long time since I've been to this part of a major. It's just a journey."

Earlier in the day at Flushing Meadows, the men's doubles final took place between the Croat-Brazilian pair of Mate Pavic and Bruno Soares and Croat-Dutch pair of Nikola Mektic and Wesley Koolhof. While Mektic-Koolhof were the eighth seeds, it was the Pavic-Soares team that won the title. Pavic-Soares defeated Mektic-Koolhof 7-5, 6-3 in an hour and 31 minutes. 

Grand Slam Glory 🏆

How Pavic & Soares defeated the No. 8 seeds in straight-sets 👉 https://t.co/SszNVy5fR4 pic.twitter.com/6LneazgATX

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 10, 2020

Hello and welcome to the News18 Sports' live blog on the US Open 2020 women's singles semi-finals, which includes Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, Jennifer Brady and Victoria Azarenka.