Osaka ousts Halep to set up clash with Kasatkina

Japanesedynamo Naomi Osaka punched her ticket to the Indian Wells final onFriday, routing world No 1 Simona Halep to set up a title clash withrising star Daria Kasatkina. World No. 44 Osaka stormed past the topseeded Halep in stunning fashion with a 6-3, 6-0 win, while Russianjuggernaut Kasatkina wore down the 37-year-old seven-time Grand Slamwinner Venus Williams in three sets 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.The 26-year-oldformer champion Halep dropped to 18-2 on the season as she lasted just64 minutes on the court with Osaka. “I just was not ready. I missed theball a lot and I didn’t play what I had to play,” Halep said. “I don’tfind excuses. She was better. I just was not ready and played wrong.”Youthprevailed Friday night as both unseeded Osaka and world No. 19Kasatkina are 20 years old while the combined age of Williams and Halepis 63. “I feel like there is a new generation and we are trying to pushthrough,” said Osaka, who clinched the contest on the third match point.Osakaimproved to 14-4 in 2018 as she came into the clash as the lowestranked Indian Wells semi-finalist since Kim Clijsters in 2005. “I waskind of nervous that entire (final) game because it kept going back andforth,” Osaka said. “But I’m really glad I was able to finish on myserve instead of having to break her or something like that. Yeah, itfelt good.”Halep had three double faults, won just five points onher second serve and had her serve broken five times. Halep, who hadreached the semi-finals in all four of her tournaments in 2018, wastrying to repeat her Indian Wells success of three years ago when shebeat Jelena Jankovic to lift the trophy.Meanwhile, Kasatkina rolledover her third top-10 player in a row to reach her first Indian Wellsfinal. Kasatkina rallied to claim the biggest victory of her career anddefeat world number eight Williams, extending a year-long assault on topplayers, Grand Slam winners and former world number ones. “A match likethis, you’re just speechless,” Kasatkina said. “Too many emotions andyou cannot explain everything. Maybe one of the best nights in my life,for sure.”Serving for the match, Kasatkina clinched the victory onher second match point as she raced out to a 40-0 lead. Williams hit across-court forehand winner on the first match point but then dumped abackhand into the net to end the two hour, 49 minute marathon showdown.Ultimatelythe young Russian proved to be too strong for Williams, who appeared tohit a wall at about the two and a half hour mark. “As my coach said,she’s 37 years old, I am 20, so I should go for three sets,” she said.Kasatkina fired one ace, hit five double faults and broke Williams’sserve seven times in the entertaining match.Williams had almostdouble the number of unforced errors, 63-45, and broke Kasatkina sixtimes but she also made five double faults — some at crucial moments inthe match. “Anyone who gets used to losses should give up on life,”Williams said.Kasatkina continues her Cinderella run through theCalifornia desert tournament as she goes for her second WTA title.Kasatkina has beaten all four reigning Grand Slam champions in the pastyear, including US Open champ Sloane Stephens twice. She did it for thesecond time at Indian Wells, winning their third round match 6-4, 6-3.Aftereliminating Stephens she beat two top 10 players to get to the semis —world number two Caroline Wozniacki in three sets in the fourth roundand then No 10 Angelique Kerber in straight sets in the quarters.