OSAKA CEMENTS NUMERO UNO SLOT IN WOMEN’S TENNIS

MELBOURNE: Japan’s Naomi Osaka dismissed Jennifer Brady in straight sets to win her fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on Saturday and underline her new status as the dominant force in women’s tennis. Osaka, 23, swept past America’s Brady 6-4, 6-3 in 77 minutes to win her second straight major crown and extend a 21-match winning streak.

The world number three, who will rise to second in the rankings, becomes only the third player after Monica Seles and Roger Federer to win her first four major finals. By clinching back-to-back majors, the champion has won half of the Slams she has contested since her breakthrough 2018 US Open win against Serena Williams.

US OPEN 2018

Osaka, 20, became the first Japanese to win a Slam by beating Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4 in a match marred by the American’s tantrums. Serena consoled Osaka fighting her tears as the crowd booed during the presentation.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2019

Osaka backed up her New York breakthrough by battling past Czech eighth seed Petra Kvitova 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-4. Osaka became the youngest woman to win back-to-back majors since Martina Hingis in 1998.

US OPEN 2020

The 22-year-old beat Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. Osaka won praise for her support of the Black Lives Matter movement by wearing different masks in each round to honour victims of racial injustice in the US.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2021

Beat Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-3 in 77 mins to complete a Covid-interrupted 12 months and 21 matches without a loss. Her toughest match was against Garbine Muguruza in the 4th round where she saved two match points.