The trouble for Naomi Osaka at Grand Slam tournaments comes in Week 1. Get beyond that stage at the hard-court majors, though, and start preparing to etch her name on the trophy. Osaka won her fourth title in her past eight appearances at a Slam, emerging from what initially was a tight Australian Open final and pulling away by grabbing six consecutive games to beat Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday.
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With strong serving that produced six aces, Osaka improved to 4-0 in major finals, the first woman to start her career that way since Monica Seles did it 30 years ago. For Osaka, that is part of a 12-0 record so far in the quarter finals and beyond at the majors. The 2020 Female Athlete of the Year is also on a 21-match winning streak that dates to last season. That includes a championship at last year’s US Open. She also won the US Open in 2018, and the Australian Open in 2019.
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“Tonight it wasn’t meant to be,” Brady said after participating in her first Grand Slam final at age 25. “Hopefully there’s many more. “She’s such an inspiration to us all, and what she’s doing for the game is amazing in getting the sport out there,” said Brady, an American who was seeded 22nd. “I hope young girls at home are watching and inspired by what she’s doing.”The 23-year-old Osaka was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and Haitian father, and moved to the United States with her family when she was 3. She was seeded No. 3 at Melbourne Park and is now assured of moving up to No. 2.
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Only two active women own more Slam titles than Osaka: Serena Williams, with 23, and her sister, Venus, with seven. Next task for Osaka is improving on clay and grass: She’s never been past the third round at the French Open or Wimbledon.
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“I told everyone that would listen that you’re going to be a problem - and I was right,” Osaka told Brady with a chuckle, after her asking her whether she prefers to be called Jenny or Jennifer. “To see your growth over the past few months is really cool for me to see.”
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After beating Serena Williams in the semi-finals, Osaka had made her intentions clear: “I have this mentality that people don’t remember the runners-up. You might, but the winner’s name is the one that’s engraved.” And she keeps making sure that name is hers.
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The stadium was allowed to be at half capacity - about 7,500 people - after spectators were barred entirely earlier in the tournament for five days during a COVID-19 lockdown. “Thank you for coming and watching. It feels really incredible for me,” said Osaka, whose US Open title came in empty stadiums. “I didn’t play my last Grand Slam with fans, so just to have this energy, it really means a lot.”
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On Saturday, the women’s match was locked at 4-all, when Brady used an on-the-run lob winner that she punctuated by waving her arms to request more noise from the crowd. That earned a break point - convert that, and she would serve for the opening set.
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But Osaka erased the chance with a cross-court forehand winner, and two errors by Brady made it 5-4. Osaka then broke to grab the set, helped by Brady’s double-fault and a netted forehand on a short ball to end it.
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That was part of the six-game run that put Osaka ahead 4-0 in the second and she was on her way.
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