Naomi Osaka blasts into US Open semi-finals and breaks 22 YEAR Japanese streak
NAOMI OSAKA has become the first Japanese woman to reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam since 1996 after comfortably beating Lesia Tsurenko 6-1 6-1.
Osaka and Tsurenko were both playing in their first US Open quarter-final but the Oska showed no nervous as she raced into a 5-1 lead in the first set after two breaks of serve.
Osaka then took the set 6-1 with an ace then broke Tsurenko immediately at the start of the second after the Ukrainan went long.
As the errors from Tsurenko's racket multiplied, Osaka was once again able to boss the set and moved to 4-0.
Tsurenko got his first break points of the match at 4-1 in the second set but Osaka saved all three to put herself on the brink of the semi-finals.
Osaka then completed the win in just 58 minutes after breaking Tsurenko dropped her serve once again.
The 20-year-old is the youngest player left in the draw.
The last Japanese women's player to reach a semi-final was Kimiko Date, who lost to Steffi Graf at Wimbledon.
Lesia Tsurenko struggled with the heat (Image: GETTY)
Osaka said: "This moment means a lot. I want to thank everyone for cheering.
"I didn't celebrate [after winning] because the other time I cried a little bit and people made fun of me so I thought I'd go straight to the net.
"I was freaking out inside. My entire body was shaking, so I'm glad I made it today."
On creating history, Osaka added: "I just try to play one match at a time and I'm just grateful people were cheering for me.
"I fought for every point. That's something I've struggled with in the past."
