Postpublished at 06:39 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Osaka 6-2 4-6 1-1 Pliskova*
Pliskova goes long.
It's finally advantage Osaka.
The US Open champion saves three break points and holds.
She looks to the heavens.
Summary
Rafael Nadal beats Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2 6-4 6-0 to reach Sunday's final
2009 winner Nadal will bid for second Australian Open title
Novak Djokovic and Lucas Pouille semi-final on Friday
Naomi Osaka beats Karolina Pliskova to reach Saturday's women's final
Osaka will face Petra Kvitova after Czech defeated Danielle Collins
Postpublished at 06:39 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Postpublished at 06:38 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Osaka 6-2 4-6 0-1 Pliskova
Break point three as Pliskova nonchalantly smashes a winner.
Saved once more as the Czech player sends a forehand from deep into the net.
Deuce three.
Postpublished at 06:36 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Osaka 6-2 4-6 0-1 Pliskova
"Come onnnnn!" Osaka yells as she nails a 44th winner.
That's 44!
Deuce.
Postpublished at 06:36 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Osaka 6-2 4-6 0-1 Pliskova
Suddenly it's break point!
Saved with a forehand mixed with some serious topspin.
Deuce.
Advantage Pliskova as Osaka's shot is a fraction long.
Break point deux.
Postpublished at 06:34 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Osaka 6-2 4-6 0-1 Pliskova
Image source, ReutersBoom shake the room!
Osaka finds her angles again with her double-handed backhand.
15-15.
30-15 with an ace - her 10th.
Pliskova then conjures up one of the forehand returns of the match - one that clips the line and flashes past Osaka.
30-30.
Postpublished at 06:33 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Osaka 6-2 4-6 0-1 Pliskova
Pliskova goes long with a forehand - 40-30. Fist pump from Osaka.
The Japanese player then applauds an ace fired down by Pliskova.
Not entirely sure if she'll be doing the same at the end of the contest if it carries on in this manner.
Postpublished at 06:31 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Osaka 6-2 4-6 0-0 Pliskova*
Image source, Reuters0-15.
15-15 with a big serve.
A great serve to the body has Osaka in all sorts of trouble.
30-15.
40-15.
Game and second set Pliskovapublished at 06:28 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Osaka 6-2 4-6 Pliskova*
The Czech player, who looked down and out (admittedly she does have a poker face), breaks to love.
Back of the net.
Or is that back over the net?
Postpublished at 06:26 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Osaka 6-2 4-5 Pliskova
The cord favours Pliskova.
0-30.
Osaka then makes an awful error.
Three.
Set.
Points.
Postpublished at 06:25 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Osaka 6-2 4-5 Pliskova
Image source, EPAOsaka goes long with a forehand.
0-15.
Could Pliskova?
Postpublished at 06:25 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Osaka 6-2 4-5 Pliskova
30-15 as Osaka produces her 40th (FORTIETH) winner.
30-30.
40-30.
Pliskova holds once more as Osaka goes long.
She lets out a shriek of disappointment, a bit like the one you would let out when you realise you've run out of cereal despite thinking you had one more bowl's worth.
Postpublished at 06:21 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Osaka 6-2 4-4 Pliskova*
Another rabbit-punch of a forehand brings up Advantage Osaka.
The 21-year-old then dances along the baseline and sends down another forehand winner.
Pliskova is playing really well, it's just Osaka is a level above that.
Postpublished at 06:19 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Osaka 6-2 3-4 Pliskova
Pliskova hasn't hung up the racquet.
Deuce.
The Czech player gambles and comes mid-court - it pays off as she picks off the pick-up from Osaka.
Break point Pliskova.
Saved with a forehand.
Postpublished at 06:17 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Osaka 6-2 3-4 Pliskova
An 11th winner - a forehand - sees Pliskova take a 30-15 lead.
But then Osaka tells her Santa Claus doesn't exist with a wicked forehand.
She follows it up with a humdinger of a crouched double-handed backhand.
40-30.
Postpublished at 06:16 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Osaka 6-2 3-4 Pliskova
Image source, Reuters0-15.
Ace - number nine. It was challenged but the computer says, "by half an inch".
15s each.
Postpublished at 06:14 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Osaka 6-2 3-4 Pliskova
30-15 then Pliskova... wait for it... produces her first ace of the match.
40-15.
Osaka clips the top of the net - about the zillionth time this has happened in the match - and reduces the advantage to 40-30.
However, Pliskova staves off another bout of deuce.
The ball is quite literally in Osaka's court.
Postpublished at 06:12 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Osaka 6-2 3-3 Pliskova*
Image source, ReutersPliskova takes charge at the net with a good low forehand followed by a better backhand stretch which even the spritely Osaka cannot deal with.
30-0.
Postpublished at 06:10 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Osaka 6-2 3-3 Pliskova*
Osaka pummels her seventh ace - Pliskova has yet to produce even one in this match. Surprising.
15-0 becomes 30-15.
Pliskova unintentionally uses the cord to try to confuse Osaka but the Japanese player reads it and fires down a winner.
Osaka then holds.
Cool as a cucumber in a warehouse freezer, even in this heat.
Postpublished at 06:06 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Osaka 6-2 2-3 Pliskova
40-30 before Osaka pounces on a short ball and punches home her 28th winner.
Deuce.
Pliskova eventually holds, but it's tough going on her own serve.
Postpublished at 06:05 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Osaka 6-2 2-2 Pliskova*
Osaka hits another winner from a poor second serve.
30-15.
Osaka then produces a beauty of a one-handed forehand with plenty of top.
30s each.