Naomi Osaka beat Petra Kvitova to become the first Japanese women to win an Australian Open on Saturday. It was also her second straight grand slam win.
21-year old rose to No. 1 in the world courtesy of her thrilling win edging Petra Kvitova 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-4 and also became the first Asian to claim the No. 1 ranking.
Osaka dominated the first set, but Kvitova took the second. But needless to say, that the second set was the most dramatic amongst all. Osaka held three match points in the second set at 5-3, love-40 as Kvitova served, but Osaka failed to take the set dropping 23 of the next 27 points.
However, regrouping herself the Japanese youngster bounced back to win the third set 6-3 to take the Australian Open back home.
It was a thrilling match overall and the game lasted two hours and 27 minutes.
The new world No. 1 was all smiles and her usual self during the trophy presentation.
"Huge congrats to Petra. I've always wanted to play you. You've been through so much, honestly I wouldn't have wanted this to be our first match."@Naomi_Osaka_ is all class 🙏#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/8WxY6PVNc2
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2019
“Erm, hello. Sorry, public speaking isn’t my strong point so I hope I can get through this,” she said.
“I read notes before this but I still forgot what I was meant to say. Thank you, everyone, I am really honoured to have played in this final.”
Naomi Osaka now has her eyes set at her next grand slam tournament i.e The French Open.
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