Australian Open: Naomi Osaka’s victory full of twists and turns

Naomi Osaka has become the world’s top-ranked woman after defeating Petra Kvitova in a dramatic Australian Open final.

Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka of Japan poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in Melbourne.

Naomi Osaka has become the world’s top-ranked woman after defeating Petra Kvitova to win a maiden Australian Open title in a dramatic decider in Melbourne.

In a tense, thrilling encounter, the 21-year-old became the first woman since Jennifer Capriati in 2001 to back up a maiden grand slam triumph with another title run at the following grand slam when edging Kvitova 7-6 (2) 5-7 6-4 in 2hr 27m.

But as indicated by the score line, this was a final full of twists and turns, with some of the momentum changes coming completely against the run of play.

“Public speaking is not really my strong spot,” she said

“Petra, congratulations.I have always wanted to play you and you have been through so much and honestly, I wouldn’t have wanted this to be our first match ... but I am truly honoured to have played you in a grand slam final.

“I read notes before this, but I have forgotten them, but I am really honoured to have played in this final.”

Osaka celebrates her win.

Given Kvitova’s determination to overcome career-threatening injuries to her playing hand when the victim of a home invasion a couple of years ago, it was scarcely surprising that she would fight with all she could summon in her bid to claim a third major title.

She spoke eloquently when touching on the traumatic attack just prior to Christmas in 2017 and said she was delighted to be able to compete in a grand slam final once again.

“It is crazy. I cannot believe that I just played a final of a grand slam again,” Kvitova said.

“It was a great final. Well done, Naomi. You really played well and congrats for being No 1 as well.

“It is a great tournament, so for me, it is a big honour to hold this beautiful trophy. It has been a while since I have been in a final.

“To my team, thank you for everything but most of all, thank you for sticking with me when we didn’t know if I would be able to hold the racquet again.

“You were there every single day supporting me and staying positive for me which is what I really needed. It probably wasn’t easy, so thank you very much.”

After clinching a tight first set with some brilliant shot-making in the tiebreaker, the 21-year-old appeared to be in an impregnable position to become the first Japanese player to win the Australian Open when well on top in the second set.

But from holding three match points at 5-3 on the Kvitova serve, Osaka lost nine of the next ten points — and her composure overall — in a stunning turnaround.

From being one point from the title, Osaka seemed shattered as she double-faulted to drop the second set and appeared to be in tears as she asked the umpire to be allowed to use a toilet break.

The manner with which she melted in the latter stages of the set was in stark contrast to the composure she demonstrated amid the furore that unfolded in her US Open success over Serena Williams last September.

But to her immense credit, the younger finalist regained her composure and was able to edge ahead in the deciding set when breaking for a 2-1 lead with a thumped cross-court backhand winner.

Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic attends a press conference after being defeated in hte final.

Kvitova, who was seeking to win her first major title away from the All England Club, held a point to retrieve the break at 2-3 but the powerful right-hander saved that with a strong serve.

Osaka raced to a 0-40 lead in the following game but once again, the dual-Wimbledon champion was able to rise to the occasion on serve, saving three break points to stay in touch.

But this time the eventual champion maintained her concentration. Osaka managed to hold her following service game to love to again move to within one game of a maiden Australian Open title when leading 5-3.

The drama did not stop there. After Kvitova held to force Osaka to serve for the final, raindrops began falling, but not strongly enough to delay play from proceeding.

And this time around the reigning US Open champion started the final game in outstanding fashion, serving an ace on the opening point and then clubbing a forehand winner before forcing Kvitova into error.

For the second time in the final, she held three match points in succession, though this time it was on her serve. The first went begging when she clubbed a forehand long but on the next — and fifth match point overall — a powerful serve proved enough for her to draw an error.

The first set was an even affair, with both women able to stave off break point opportunities in the middle stages while largely dominant on serve overall.

The standard was high, even though there was not a significant amount of extended rallies, such was the excellence of their serving and shot-making.

A rare counterpoint was an 18-shot rally at 5-all that included three let chords as the finalists went from side-to-side and forward and back.

Osaka initially held a set point when the Czech erred on a forehand while serving at 5-6, but Kvitova was able to save it with a forehand winner ripped down the line.

A second was saved when a shanked return floated just beyond the baseline, with the Czech showing a level of toughness under pressure that predicated the drama in the second.

The Japanese star had by far the better of the opening set tiebreaker, with her shot-making sublime as she raced to a 5-1 lead.

The first set was hers three points later when she drew a backhand error from her older rival. And that spelled trouble for Kvitova’s hopes of becoming the oldest first-time number one in women’s tennis, for Osaka had won 59 matches in succession after claiming the first set.

By the time Osaka arrived for the champion’s press conference just prior to 12.30am, she was exhausted, saying she “did not know how anyone is awake right now”.

Naomi Osaka speaks to the media during her post-match press conference

The enormity of becoming the first Asian player to seize the top ranking was yet to set in. Nor the fact that she became the first Japanese player of either sex to win the Australian Open after her three set triumph.

She said she was honoured to receive the Daphne Ackhurst Memorial Trophy from Li Na, who became the first Asian woman to win a grand slam at Roland Garros in 2011 and backed up with a success in Melbourne in 2014.

“I didn’t expect to see her there,” she said.

“At first, I was very shocked. I wanted to cry a little bit, but I didn’t want to cry on this … podium. So, yeah, I was really touched. I just felt really honoured, I don’t know, that she was giving me this trophy.”

Osaka touched on the match points she held in the second set, noting that she did not believe she had squandered that opportunity, rather that Kvitova had risen to the occasion.

“I don’t think it’s drama. I had the match points on her serve, so she’s supposed to hold her serve. She’s one of the best players in the world, so I didn’t think it was drama,” she said.

“I do think I did have a lot of stress, but only in certain moments. Then it went away. It’s usually during all the three-set matches I played this time. But I feel like I was able to handle it well, sort of relax my mind so I wouldn’t overthink.”

But she said the shock of dropping the second set did overwhelm her for a period.

“Did you not see my tears?” she said, smiling.

“I just thought to myself that this is my second time playing a final. I can’t really act entitled. To be playing against one of the best players in the world, to lose a set, suddenly think that I’m so much better than her that that isn’t a possibility...

“I wanted to enjoy my time here. Last year I lost in the fourth round. Now this year I was in the final, so I wanted to be happy about that, yeah, just basically have no regrets about today.”

Osaka became the first woman since Jennifer Capriati in 2001 to follow a maiden grand slam triumph by claiming a second at her next major event. Asked whether she ever surprised herself with how well she has performed to date, she responded “yes and no”.

“Like, I had dreams that I would win this tournament, you know?,” she said

“Every time I have a dream, somehow I accomplish it, I still feel like it’s a very strange moment. Like, I feel like I’m living right now, but it’s not necessarily real, if that makes sense.”