From one star to all the others: Naomi Osaka’s US Open tribute to Kobe Bryant

Japanese star Naomi Osaka claimed her third grand slam title in a stellar final in New York.

Japan’s Naomi Osaka celebrates her US Open win. Picture: Getty Images

As Naomi Osaka was celebrating an astonishing US Open triumph, she reflected on the importance of a friendship she formed with the late, great basketballer Kobe Bryant and his influence on her.

The Japanese champion, who weathered the brilliance of Victoria Azarenka to win a second US Open 1-6 6-3 6-3, has now won two of the more remarkable finals played in New York.

Her first title two years ago came when, while dominating Serena Williams, the American legend lost control and was defaulted in scenes that prompted prolonged booing by a partisan crowd.

The second, against a resurgent star in Azarenka, was played in front of only a handful of workers who had staffed Flushing Meadows over the past fortnight, the near silence disturbed only by nearby planes and trains.

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On both occasions, Osaka was clearly the deserving champion, with her major triumphs sandwiching her Australian Open success in Melbourne in 2019.

The 22-year-old is the fifth woman in the Open era to win her first three major finals and the most recent since Jennifer Capriati in 2001 and 2002.

It required a stellar effort to do so, for Azarenka started with the vigour that once saw her claim two Australian Open titles when a dominant player in 2012 and 2013.

Naomi Osaka walks on court before her US Open final against Victoria Azarenka. Picture: AFP

The Belarusian landed 91 per cent of her first serves in the opening set and was on the verge of seizing complete dominance when holding a point for a 6-1 3-0 lead.

Osaka responded brilliantly to become the first woman to overcome a set deficit to win a US Open final since Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario defeated Steffi Graf in 1994.

Showing similar control after thanking Azarenka, the world No 3 walked to the other side of the court before lying on the ground, looking up to the stars about New York.

“I was thinking about all the times I’ve watched the great players sort of collapse on to the ground and look up into the sky,” she said.

“I’ve always wanted to see what they saw. For me, it was really an incredible moment. I’m really glad I did it.”

Naomi Osaka lets it all sink in at the US Open. Picture: AFP

After winning consecutive slams in New York and Melbourne, Osaka struggled for a period last year with the demands and attention that come with being a global star.

She paid tribute to Bryant for his assistance, saying he provided a wealth of support through her period of struggle in 2019.

The Los Angeles Laker, who died in a helicopter crash alongside his daughter Gianna and seven others in January, believed Osaka could become a global inspiration.

Bryant loved tennis, so much so that he published a book last year called “Legacy and the Queen”, detailing the exploits of an underdog teenage tennis prodigy.

Victoria Azarenka reacts during the third set during the US Open final against Naomi Osaka. Picture: AFP

A regular visitor to Flushing Meadows, he was transfixed by the athleticism and intensity of players like Osaka and became a regular confidante.

“I feel like, at this point, there are certain things that I do that I hope can make him proud. It’s, like, keeping his legacy alive for me,” Osaka said.

“For me, I just want to be the type of person that he thought I was going to be. He thought I was going to be great, so hopefully I will be great in the future. Only time will tell.”

As a teenager, Osaka would discuss Pokemon after wins. After an early round win in Melbourne in 2016, she was dubbed a “child of the internet”.

For the most part, she has let her actions on the court do the talking, successfully, as she rose up the rankings.

But in her early adulthood, as Osaka has cemented herself among the world’s most recognised athletes, she has also developed a stronger voice.

Although based in a “bubble” over the past fortnight, Osaka has become increasingly interested in the view beyond the baseline, into the stands and further afield.

Over the past fortnight the 22-year-old has stepped on to Arthur Ashe Stadium wearing a mask bearing the name of a black person killed by police.

The families of those she has honoured over the past fortnight thanked her for the stand.

No woman has come back from a set down in the #USOpen final since 1994.@naomiosaka made sure that streak didn't continue. pic.twitter.com/nPgEamCSQG

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 13, 2020