Australian Open: Osaka will play its first final in Melbourne against Kvitova

Japan's Naomi Osaka, world number four, qualified for her first final at the Australian Open, her second consecutive Grand Slam, at the expense of Czech Karolina Pliskova (N.8) beaten 6-2 4-6, 6-4, Thursday in Melbourne.

She will meet Czech Petra Kvitova. Naomi Osaka (21), first Japanese Grand Slam winner at the US Open last September after an explosive final against Serena Williams, will face for the trophy another Czech, Petra Kvitova, number 6 worldwide. The one to be crowned will become world number one.