Japan’s Tennis Super girl Naomi Osaka has won the Australian Open for her second consecutive Grand Slam title by beating Petra Kvitova 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-4 in the final.
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The 21-year-old Osaka also becomes the first tennis player from Japan to reach No. 1 in the rankings. She is also the first Asian man or woman to top the singles rankings, built on her maiden title at the US Open and make it back-to-back slam successes.
Osaka held three match points at 5-3 in the second set but couldn’t close it out. She allowed Kvitova to come back and win 23 of 27 points to take that set and go up 1-0 in the third.
But Osaka regained her composure and her big-shot ability down the stretch, breaking to lead 2-1 with a cross-court backhand winner and holding on the rest of the way.
Speaking after the match, new world no 1 Osaka said:
“Sorry, public speaking isn’t really my strong side. I just hope I can get through this… Huge congrats to Petra, I always wanted to play you. You’ve been through so much and I honestly wouldn’t want this to be our first match.
“You’re really amazing and I’m so honoured to have played you.
“I want to thank you guys for coming and watching. Even though it’s really hot, you guys come and show support so I really want to show my gratitude to you.
“Thank you to Craig [Tiley, tournament director], the ball kids, the umpires, you make this tournament what it is.
“To my team, I don’t think I would have made it through this week behind you guys. Behind a tennis player is always a team so I’m really grateful.
“I read notes before this but I’ve still forgotten what I’m supposed to say. I’m really honoured to play in this final so thank you.”
Kvitova, who would also have become number one with victory, was playing in her first grand slam final since winning her second Wimbledon title in 2014 and only two years after the knife attack at her home that put her career in the balance.
Osaka added this trophy to the one she collected by beating Serena Williams in a chaotic US Open final last September.
She is the first woman to win two major championships in a row since Williams picked up four straight in 2014-15.
