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Jonathan White

Japan’s Naomi Osaka secured a fourth grand slam title with a straights set victory, battling past Jennifer Brady in the Australian Open final in Melbourne.
While she finished with three championship points it was not easy for Osaka, the third seed at Melbourne Park, having to dig deep for a 6-4, 6-3 win.
Osaka was full of praise for Brady, who she described as a “problem” in her acceptance speech.
The win was nervier than it should have been having raced into a 4-0 second set lead, winning six games in a row but Brady broke Osaka and then served out to make it 4-2.

Naomi Osaka in the late stages of a Slam?

Never lost. pic.twitter.com/mSaPT2duuq
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) February 20, 2021

Osaka lived dangerously in that seventh game, twice clipping the net to lose points but she held on to make it 5-2 and put the pressure back on Brady’s service.
Brady, who was in hard quarantine ahead of the tournament, held on but the impetus by then was with Osaka at 5-3 to serve for the championship. She did so to love with Brady hitting long to seal the win.
Naomi Osaka’s race and gender rhetoric comes from own experiences – coach
By contrast, the first set at Rod Laver Arena was an even tougher test. Osaka took the first set 6-4 but Brady had taken the game to the Japanese world No 3 after a sluggish start.
Crowd favourite Osaka won the toss and started the stronger but control of the first set wavered in windy conditions at Melbourne Park.

"I told everyone that you were going to be a problem and I was right."

An Osaka-style compliment, no doubt @jennifurbrady95 @naomiosaka | #AO2021 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/UMnukGGMlD
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 20, 2021

The 23-year-old Osaka broke Brady to make it 3-1 but Brady broke right back then held serve to make it 3-3, Osaka twice hitting into the net to give up the game.
The 25-year-old American had rallied back to level it at 4-4 and showed some of the tennis that got her to a first career slam final.
Brady earned another break point after a wonderful lob that saw the crowd get behind her but Osaka’s talents were on full display in the next point to take the scores to deuce. Advantage Osaka. Game Osaka. 5-4.
Naomi Osaka talks more sense than Tokyo 2020 playbook
The 22nd seed, who Osaka beat on the way to winning the US Open last year, then gave up easy points to allow the 2019 Australian Open champion to go a set up.
Osaka is now undefeated in four slam final appearances and two-time winner at both the Australian and US Opens. She follows Monica Seles as the only woman to win their first four slam finals in the Open era. Seles won her first six.
Victory in Melbourne is the ideal start to the year in which Osaka will hope to win the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games gold on home soil.

"I hope young girls at home are watching and inspired by what she's doing."

Here here, @jennifurbrady95 #AO2021 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/wSryjglQtC
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 20, 2021

“Hello everyone,” Osaka started her acceptance speech. “Firstly, I wanna – do you like to be called Jenny or Jennifer? – firstly, I’d like to congratulate Jennifer.”
Osaka was full of praise for her opponent after the win, while Brady had already described Osaka as an inspiration for young girls.
“We played at the semis of the US Open a couple of months ago,” Osaka said. “I told anyone who would listen that you were going to be a problem and I was right.
Naomi Osaka’s race and gender rhetoric comes from own experiences – coach
“For me it’s really hard to play you and to see your growth over the last few months is really incredible for me to see.
“I know for me my team is like my family so I am sure you guys have a lot of really cool adventures together to congratulations to you guys as well.
“I think we’re going to play a lot more matches so here’s to that.

What a performance @naomiosaka becomes the 12th woman in the Open Era to win multiple #AusOpen titles
#AO2021 pic.twitter.com/1z5gUS2kCW
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 20, 2021

“I’d like to thank my team. I’ve been with them too long – a month and some change – and we’ve been through quarantine together
“This one’s for you.
“Lastly but not leastly I’d like to thank you guys,” she told the fans in the stands. “Thank you for coming and watching.
Naomi Osaka calls out Covid-19 ‘hate, racism and blame’ toward Asians
“It feels incredible for me. I didn’t have my last grand slam with fans. Just to have this energy it really means a lot. Thank you so much for coming.
“Thank you for opening your hearts and you arms toward us. For sure I feel like playing a grand slam right now is a super privilege and is something I won’t take for granted. Thank you for this opportunity.
“Thanks to the ball kids and volunteers. Craig Tiley, the tournament director, everyone for making this tournament possible and hopefully we’ll be back next year.”


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Naomi Osaka

Australian Open 2021: Naomi Osaka beats Jen Brady in straight sets

Japan's Naomi Osaka reacts on a point against Jennifer Brady of the US during their women's singles final at the 2021 Australian Open. Photo: AFP

Australian Open: Naomi Osaka speaks out about race and gender inequality because she was also ‘misunderstood’, says coach

Naomi Osaka is not afraid to speak her mind. Photo: EPA

Japanese coach Yutaka Nakamura trains with women's tennis star Naomi Osaka before her second-round match at the Australian Open in Melbourne in February. Photo: Australian Open

A combination picture shows tennis player Naomi Osaka of Japan wearing protective face masks to honor Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Philando Castile, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery and Tamir Rice during the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, U.S., in these pictures taken August 31, September 2, September 4, September 6, September 8, September 10, September 12, 2020. MANDATORY CREDIT Robert Deutsch and Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports/via REUTERS

Australian Open: Naomi Osaka ends Serena Williams’ record grand slam bid in semi-final wipeout

Serena Williams congratulates Naomi Osaka after their semi-final at the Australian Open in Melbourne. Photo: AFP

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 18, 2021 Japan's Naomi Osaka in action during her semi final match against Serena Williams of the U.S. REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Australian Open 2021: Naomi Osaka beats Caroline Garcia to face Ons Jabeur

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, in action during her second round Women's singles match against Caroline Garcia, of France, at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Photo: EPA

Tokyo 2020: Naomi Osaka talks more sense than Olympic playbook

Japan’s Naomi Osaka celebrates after winning her quarter-final in her Australian Open warm-up tournament. Photo: Reuters

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 04: Naomi Osaka of Japan wears a protective face mask with the name, Ahmaud Arbery stenciled on it after winning her Women's Singles third round match against Marta Kostyuk of the Ukraine on Day Five of the 2020 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. Ahmaud Arbery, was an unarmed 25-year-old African-American man, was pursued and fatally shot while jogging in Glynn County, Georgia. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka arrives before heading straight to quarantine for two weeks isolation ahead of her Australian Open warm up matches in Adelaide on January 14, 2021. (Photo by Brenton EDWARDS / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

Australian Open 2021: Naomi Osaka eases past Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in Melbourne

Naomi Osaka of Japan in action during her first round women's singles match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia at the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Photo: EPA

Sport

Tennis


Fourth grand slam victory in four finals sees her follow Monica Seles
Trophy for Japan’s world No 3 comes after battling ‘problem’ 22nd seed over two tough sets



Fourth grand slam victory for Japan’s world No 3 comes after battling match against 22nd seed.


Australian Open 2021

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Australian Open 2021: Naomi Osaka beats Jen Brady in straight sets

Fourth grand slam victory in four finals sees her follow Monica Seles Trophy for Japan’s world No 3 comes after battling ‘problem’ 22nd seed over two tough sets

Fourth grand slam victory in four finals sees her follow Monica Seles

Trophy for Japan’s world No 3 comes after battling ‘problem’ 22nd seed over two tough sets