It’s the perfect start four Osaka
NAOMI OSAKA raced to her second Australian Open title to join tennis legends Roger Federer and Monica Seles in winning her first four Grand Slam finals.
The Japanese star showed she has a big-match temperament by beating American Jennifer Brady 6-4 6-3 in 77 minutes. The reigning US
Open champion has now won 21 consecutive matches stretching back to February last year – and 14 in a row in Majors – to be the dominant force in women’s tennis.
Andy Murray lost his first four Major finals but Osaka has now joined the Swiss and the Yugoslav-born American in getting off to a perfect start in her first four.
“That’s amazing company,” she said. “I hope that I can have one grain of how their careers have unfolded.”
Osaka has now won two US Open and two Australian Open titles – and does not turn 24 until October. Federer is on 20 and Seles won nine.
Brady, who spent two weeks in hard lockdown before reaching her first Slam final, said: “She’s won four Grand Slam titles. She knows what she’s doing out there.”
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic was involved in another PR gaffe yesterday when his racquet sponsor Head had to quickly withdraw a press release congratulating him on a “record-breaking” ninth Australian Open title.
That will be correct only if the world No.1 beats Russia’s Daniil Medvedev today.
Medvedev is on a 20-match winning streak, and beat Djokovic in their last meeting in London in November.
JOKER Danny Addy is ready to have the last laugh on the doubters this season.
The 30-year-old utility star is one of 12 new signings hoping to contribute to another year of Salford shocks.
Even though the Red Devils have reached the Grand Final and Challenge Cup final in the last two seasons, few are tipping them for glory again. And that, revealed Addy (left), is just the motivation his team-mates needed through the long slog of pre-season training.
Addy admitted: “It puts a bit of fire in your belly.
“In most games we will be seen as underdogs – but we know what we’re capable of.
“Salford have shown that they can beat anyone. It is up to us to prove everyone wrong again.”
Salford have a new coach in Richard Marshall, as well as a big player turnover, but Addy says he’s had no trouble settling in.
He added: “I’ve never had a problem settling in anywhere because I’m a bit of a character so I can break the ice quite early.
“I get along with everyone and like to have a mess about when the time is right. I love to keep the lads laughing and tell a few jokes.
“A lot of the lads think I have ADHD and I guess I do have a short attention span – but when it’s time to work I can switch it on.”
Addy, who spent last season at Leigh, has tipped his former club to do well too. “They will definitely shock a few people this year,” he said.