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MELBOURNE: Naomi Osaka claimed her fourth Grand Slam title on Saturday (February 20) after beating American Jennifer Brady at the Australian Open.
The 23-year-old became the first female player to win her first four Grand Slam finals since Monica Seles in 1991.
Here, AFP describes how they won their two US Opens and two Australian Opens:
US OPEN 2018
Osaka, 20, became the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title by beating her idol Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4 in a match marred by American chair umpire Carlos Ramos, who called “thief” after being penalized.
Naomi Osaka of Japan cries alongside runner-up Serena Williams after winning the 2018 US Open (File Photo: AFP / JULIAN FINNEY)
A composite Osaka put aside the drama to record just the second title of her career, but her triumph soured when the American crowd booed during the trophy presentation. Osaka tried to hide her tears and Williams comforted her.
The 20th seeded Osaka lost just one set during the tournament and became the youngest US Open champion since Maria Sharapova in 2006.
AUSTRALIA OPEN 2019
Osaka backed her up in New York by beating Czech eighth seed Petra Kvitova 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-4 in a gripping final at Melbourne Park.
She overcame a trio of three-set matches on her way to the final, but her close triumph meant she became the first Asian, male or female, to rise to the highest ranking in the world.
Tennis star Naomi Osaka of Japan practices at Melbourne Park ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, January 31, 2021 (File Photo: REUTERS / Loren Elliott).
Osaka, who wept with joy after a titanic battle that lasted more than two hours, became the youngest woman to win consecutive majors since Martina Hingis in 1998 and the youngest number one since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010.
US OPEN 2020
The 22-year-old came from a set down to beat Victoria Azarenka for her third Grand Slam title.
The fourth-seeded fought back 1-6, 0-2 behind to beat his non-seeded opponent from Belarus 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 inside a fanless Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows.
Osaka walked into court wearing a mask bearing the name of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old African-American boy who was shot and killed by a white police officer in Cleveland, Ohio in 2014.
Naomi Osaka of Japan wears a mask with the name Elijah McClain after her victory over Camila Giorgi of Italy at the US Open. (AFP / MATTHEW STOCKMAN)
Osaka, of Japanese and Haitian descent, won widespread praise for her support of the Black Lives Matter movement by wearing different masks in each round to honor the victims of racial injustice and police brutality.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2021
Defeat Brady 6-4, 6-3 in just 77 minutes to complete a remarkable 12 months interrupted by COVID and 21 games without a loss on the court.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka serves American Jennifer Brady during the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, on February 20, 2021 (Photo: AP / Hamish Blair).
Osaka broke the American twice in each set, and although Brady recovered one of the breaks each time, she was ultimately defeated by the firepower of the Japanese superstar in front of thousands of fans at Rod Laver Arena.
Osaka, the world’s highest-earning female athlete, was pushed harder in the fourth round when she had to save two match points against Garbine Muguruza, but never seemed in danger from then on.
