Photos: Naomi Osaka beats Victoria Azarenka to win 2nd US Open and third Grand Slam

Osaka, the fourth seed, overcame her unseeded opponent 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in 1hr 53min

Published: September 13, 2020 06:26 AFP and compiled by Balaram Menon, Senior Web Editor

1 of 17

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, returns a shot to Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, during the women's singles final of the US Open tennis championships, in New York. Image Credit: AP

2 of 17

Japan's Naomi Osaka came from a set down to beat Victoria Azarenka of Belarus to win the US Open on Saturday and clinch her third Grand Slam title. Image Credit: AP

3 of 17

Naomi Osaka (R) holds the championship trophy and Victoria Azarenka (L) of Belarus holds the finalist trophy. Image Credit: AFP

4 of 17

Osaka, the fourth seed, overcame her unseeded opponent 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in 1hr 53min inside a near-empty Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadows. Image Credit: NYT

5 of 17

It brought 22-year-old Osaka's haul of tennis major trophies to three after her victories at the 2018 US Open and 2019 Australian Open. | Above: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus serves the ball in the second set. Image Credit: AFP

6 of 17

Azarenka, 31, sprinted to the first set in just 26 minutes, dominating Osaka with an 88 percent success rate on her first serve. Image Credit: NYT

7 of 17

The Japanese was uncharacteristically sloppy, hitting a whopping 13 unforced errors. Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports

8 of 17

Azarenka then went 2-0 ahead in the second set before Osaka fought back to break her opponent's serve twice and take a 4-3 lead. Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports

9 of 17

The momentum had quickly swung in Osaka's favor and she broke a third time to take the match to a deciding set. Image Credit: AFP

10 of 17

Osaka enjoyed the first breakthrough of set three in game four when she broke Azarenka's serve to take a 3-1 lead. Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports

11 of 17

Azarenka then blew a golden opportunity to get back into the match, wasting three break points as Osaka recovered from 0-40 to hold for a 4-1 lead. Image Credit: NYT

12 of 17

Azarenka then saved four break points to make it 4-2 as she battled to keep the contest alive. Image Credit: AFP

13 of 17

When she broke Osaka in game seven, the set was back on serve. But Osaka immediately broke back after Azarenka pushed a forehand wide to leave herself the opportunity of serving for the match. Image Credit: NYT

14 of 17

On Osaka's second championship point, Azarenka found the net. After touching racquets with her opponent, Osaka lay down in the middle of the court and looked up at the sky in celebration. Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports

15 of 17

Osaka had walked onto the court wearing a mask bearing the name of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old African-American boy who was shot dead by a white police officer in Cleveland, Ohio in 2014. Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports

16 of 17

Osaka, of Japanese and Haitian heritage, wore different masks honoring victims of racial injustice and police brutality in each round of the tournament. Image Credit: AFP

17 of 17

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus hits the ball against Naomi Osaka of Japan. Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Photos Sports

Photos: Naomi Osaka beats Victoria Azarenka to win 2nd US Open and third Grand Slam

More From Photos

Champion Aryna Sabalenka struggles through in Madrid Open

Tunisia’s Moez Echargui gets chance to realise Olympic dream

Rafael Nadal wishes he could play long enough for his son to remember him on court

Rafael Nadal begins Madrid farewell with victory over teen Blanch

GULFNEWS SECTIONS

Trending

Photos: Naomi Osaka beats Victoria Azarenka to win 2nd US Open and third Grand Slam

More From Photos

Champion Aryna Sabalenka struggles through in Madrid Open

Tunisia’s Moez Echargui gets chance to realise Olympic dream

Rafael Nadal wishes he could play long enough for his son to remember him on court

Rafael Nadal begins Madrid farewell with victory over teen Blanch

GULFNEWS SECTIONS