4 out of four for Osaka in Grand Slam finals

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.