Serena Williams said it was incredible feeling to reach her 31st grand slam singles final as she booked a clash with Naomi Osaka for the US Open title.
The 36-year-old recovered from a nervy start to beat Lativa's Anastasija Sevastova 6-3 6-0 in just an hour and six minutes.
After losing the Wimbledon final to Angelique Kerber, Williams will have another chance on Saturday to equal Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 slam singles titles against Naomi Osaka - after the 20-year-old Japanese rising star defeated Madison Keys 6-2 6-4.
Osaka, who was only one-year-old when Williams won the first of her six US Open titles, showed remarkable poise in her first slam semi-final, saving all 13 break points that she faced.
Williams is, unsurprisingly, the heavy 2/5 favourite to win the US Open final, with Osaka a 2/1 outsider.
Williams hails incredible achievement
Williams never expressed any doubt that she would return to the game following the birth of her daughter Olympia last September, but that seemed an awfully long way away when she developed life-threatening complications.
Williams said: "It's really incredible. A year ago I was literally fighting for my life after I had the baby. Every time I step out on this court, I am so grateful I have an opportunity to play this sport. No matter what happens in any match - semis, final - I feel like I've already won."
Williams put her current level at only 50 or 60 per cent, and said: "I definitely don't feel myself yet. My mom said it takes a full year to get back. I'm at a full year now. But I'm also playing a sport professionally.
"Even my body is different. I actually weigh less than I did before I got pregnant, but it's distributed differently now.
"This is the beginning. I'm not there yet. I'm on the climb still. I just feel like not only is my future bright, even though I'm not a spring chicken, but I still have a very, very bright future. That is super exciting for me."
Osaka to face childhood idol
Osaka spent the formative years of her childhood living in New York and first came to Flushing Meadows as a fan hoping to catch a glimpse of Williams.
Osaka was only a year old when Williams won her first slam title here in 1999. Now, 19 years later, she will try to become the first Japanese woman to win a grand slam singles title.
Her on-court message to Williams was simply: "I love you," but Osaka insists she will not be happy simply to share the same stage on Saturday.
"Of course it feels a little bit surreal," she said. "Even when I was a little kid, I always dreamed that I would play Serena in a final of a grand slam. Just the fact that it's happening, I'm very happy about it.
"At the same time I feel like, even though I should enjoy this moment, I should still think of it as another match. I shouldn't really think of her as my idol. I should just try to play her as an opponent."
And as for how those dreams ended: "I don't dream to lose, so... That's how I'm answering your question."
Related tennis links
