Australian Open: Naomi Osaka beats Pliskova, will play final against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova

Japan's Naomi Osaka defeated seventh seed Karolina Pliskova to enter her maiden Australian Open final on Thursday to set up final with Petra Kvitova. 

The 21-year-old Osaka won 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to reach a second straight Grand Slam decider after her breakthrough triumph at last year's US Open. 

Fourth seed Osaka hit winners almost at will from both her forehand and backhand and broke Pliskova's service games twice while facing not a single breakpoint to canter through the first set. 

Czech eighth seed Kvitova defeated unseeded American Danielle Collins 7-6(2), 6-0 to enter her first Grand Slam final in five years.

Pliskova, who had stunned Serena Williams in the quarter-finals, failed to live up to her reputation as a big server but showed lot of pluck to level the match with a second break at 5-4 after the players had an early trade of breaks. 

Osaka converted her only breakpoint opportunity in the decider while her opponent wasted four and the 21-year-old made it to her second straight Grand Slam final with her 15th ace to seal the match in an hour and 53 minutes.