MELBOURNE-Naomi Osaka crushed Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-3 to secure her second Australian Open title on Saturday and cement her standing as the new queen of the women\u2019s game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Osaka\u2019s one-sided win over the 22nd-seeded American in the final at Rod Laver Arena gave the Japanese juggernaut her fourth major crown, with her career still budding at the age of 23. She joined Monica Seles and Roger Federer as winners in their first four Grand Slam finals, marking her out as the ultimate big match performer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy reaction is that that\u2019s very amazing company,\u201d Osaka told reporters, sitting next to the winner\u2019s Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. \u201cI hope that I can have one grain of how their career has unfolded. But you can only wish and you can only just keep going down your own path. \u201cBut it\u2019s definitely something crazy to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More major trophies surely await if she can convert her irresistible hardcourt form to French Open clay and grass at Wimbledon. Having humbled Serena Williams in the semi-finals, a victory that reinforced a changing of the guard, Osaka was untroubled by Brady in the clash of power hitters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She romped to a 21st straight win in completed matches, a streak dating back more than a year. Fans hoping for a repeat of the pair\u2019s engrossing U.S. Open semi-final last year were left disappointed as Brady froze in the spotlight of her first Slam final. U.S. Open champion Osaka was also short of her best tennis, joining Brady in producing a dour, error-strewn first set. But she settled to clinch six straight games, roaring to a 4-0 lead in the second before serving out the match to love. A big serve sealed it, causing Brady to fire a forehand return long, and Osaka held her racket over her head, beamed and gave a little leap in an understated celebration. \u201cTonight, I felt like was (it) more of a mental battle,\u201d said Osaka who also won the 2019 title. \u201cOf course, I can\u2019t speak for her, but I was extremely nervous. I honestly just told myself before the match, I\u2019m probably not going to play well. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t put that pressure on myself to play perfectly but just go out there and fight for every point.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a forgettable display from Brady\u2019s racket but she had a remarkable run in Melbourne, after being one of the 72 players unable to train during their two-week hard quarantine in the lead-up. \u201cI think she\u2019s human like the rest of us in this room,\u201d Brady told reporters of Osaka. \u201cShe just brings out her best in the big moments. \u201cBut I don\u2019t think, you know, she\u2019s God,\u201d she added with a smile. \u201cI think maybe Serena is. Maybe she\u2019ll get there, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MELBOURNE-Naomi Osaka crushed Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-3 to secure her second Australian Open title on Saturday and cement her standing as the new queen of the women\u2019s game. Osaka\u2019s one-sided win over the 22nd-seeded American in the final at Rod Laver Arena gave the Japanese […]<\/p>\n
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