Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka may soon become world’s No. 1 ranking women’s player in tennis after Australian Open win.
Naomi Osaka grabs fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open
Japanese-Haitian player Naomi Osaka may be set to become the number 1-ranked women’s singles player in the world after defeating Jennifer Brady in straight sets — 6-4, 6-3 — to win the 2021 Australian Open.
After breaking Brady to take a 3-1 lead, Brady broke right back — helped by a double fault by Osaka at deuce — to get the first set back on serve. Osaka led 5-4 and trailed 15-40, but was able to rally to break Brady’s serve and win the first set.
Osaka wasted no time taking control in the second set, breaking Brady twice to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Brady was able to break Osaka to cut the lead to 4-1, then held to make it 4-2. Both players held to make it 5-3 before Osaka closed the match the way she opened it — winning a service game at love.
"I hope young girls at home are watching and are inspired by what she's doing for the game," Brady said of Osaka after the match.
Osaka also had high praise for Brady.
“I told everyone that would listen that you're gonna be a problem, and I was right,” Osaka said to Brady. “I think we’re going to play a lot more matches.”
Osaka also thanked the fans in attendance.
“It feels really incredible for me," Osaka said. "Just to have this energy means a lot.”
Osaka came into the contest as the favorite. During her finals run, she defeated Williams — who has won the event seven times — and Garbiñe Muguruza — who was the runner-up at the Australian Open last year.
With the win, Osaka has once again asserted herself as the future of women's tennis. She's now won four Grand Slam titles at just 23. She still has a way to go to catch Margaret Court — who holds the record with 24 Grand Slam titles — or Williams — who sits at 23 Grand Slam wins, but Osaka has established herself as a perennial threat to win any event.
That was the case before the 2021 Australian Open, but Osaka furthered that point with another win. (ONT)