Japan's Naomi Osaka brutally halted Serena Williams' latest bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title on Thursday, while Novak Djokovic wrote the final chapter of qualifier Aslan Karatsev's fairytale run.
Fans returned after a five-day coronavirus lockdown in time to see an emotional exit from Williams, Jennifer Brady's win over Karolina Muchova and top-ranked Djokovic preserving his perfect semifinal record at Karatsev's expense.
Triple Major-winner Osaka, 23, again proved Williams' nemesis with a one-sided 6-3, 6-4 win which heightened questions about whether the American, 39, will ever match Margaret Court's all-time record for Slam singles titles.
Williams put her hand on her heart as she acknowledged a standing ovation on Rod Laver Arena, and later walked out of her post-match press conference in tears, saying: "I'm done."
After going 0-2 down in the first set, Osaka reeled off five straight games to take charge against a despairing Williams and canter into the final.
Williams lamented a "big error day" and refused to discuss whether she had made her last appearance at a tournament she has won seven times, an Open-era record.
The returning spectators also witnessed the end of 114th-ranked Karatsev's astonishing campaign, when he became the first man in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam semifinal on debut.
Karatsev knocked out three seeds to reach the last four but he was no match for Djokovic, the record eight-time Melbourne champion who has never lost a semi or final on his favourite court.
"This is the best I've felt in the entire tournament," said the Serb, who has been carrying an abdomen injury since the third round, after his 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win. Indicating the gulf between them, Vladikavkaz native Karatsev, 27, has won 18 Grand Slam sets in his career, while Djokovic, 33, is going for his 18th Major title.
Brady versus Muchova was a far more competitive affair as the American needed five match-points before subduing the Czech 25th seed. Brady eventually won 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to reach her debut Major final.
