Serena in final with fangirl Osaka

Six-time champion Serena Williams swept aside Anastasija Sevastova Thursday to reach a ninth US Open final, where she'll face Japanese trail blazer Naomi Osaka.

Williams, seeded 17th as she seeks to add to her 23 Grand Slam titles for the first time since the birth of her daughter Olympia last year, needed just 66 minutes to dispatch the 19th-seeded Sevastova 6-3, 6-0.

Osaka, seeded 20th, became the first Japanese woman to reach a Grand Slam final with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over American Madison Keys -- last year's beaten finalist.

Williams called her return to the US Open final for a ninth time "incredible" given that she was undergoing surgery for life threatening blood clots this time last year in the wake of giving birth.

"To come from that, in the hospital bed, not being able to move and walk and do anything, now only a year later, I'm not training, but I'm actually in these finals, in two in a row," said Williams, who also reached the final at Wimbledon. "To come this far so fast .... I'm really looking forward to the possibilities."

Williams lost out in the semi-finals of her last two US Opens, in 2015 and 2016.

But with six titles in New York she needs just one more to surpass Chris Evert for most all-time -- and she needs just one more Grand Slam title to equal Australian Margaret Court's all-time record of 24.

Osaka, 20 and in the last four at a Slam for the first time, admitted she was driven by the idea of facing Williams.

Asked how she managed to save all 13 break points she faced, Osaka said: "I was just thinking I really want to play Serena."

Asked to elaborate, Osaka seemed stunned. "Because she's Serena -- what do you mean!" said Osaka, who had already made history along with men's semi-finalist Kei Nishikori as the first Japanese man and woman to reach the last four at the Slam.

"It still feels really weird because I've never beaten Madison before," she said. "I'm just glad I was able to get through this match."

Her overriding aim as she served for the match: "Don't double fault".

Osaka won her only prior meeting with Williams, in the first round at Miami in March -- the American star's second tournament since giving birth.

Four years ago, Naomi Osaka tracked down Serena Williams at the Silicon Valley Classic to request a selfie. Tonight the duo will battle it out for the US Open. PHOTO: COLLECTED

"I definitely wasn't at my best," said Williams, now in her seventh tournament back.

Sevastova, who beat defending champion Sloane Stephens to reach the last four, was left regretting "some stupid games from me that I lost".

"I shouldn't have gotten broken twice in the first set -- I had game points in both games," she said. "When she's in front, it's tough to play," Sevastova said.