Japan’s Naomi Osaka cemented her place as the outstanding star of the women’s game by beating American Jennifer Brady in the Australian Open final to win her fourth Grand Slam title.
Osaka, 23, is unbeaten in major finals after a 6-4 6-3 win in Melbourne.
Osaka edged the first set when Brady, in her first Grand Slam final, paid for some glaring errors in the final game.
Serious numbers 💯
It all adds up to @naomiosaka doing something very special 🔥#AusOpen #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/L1T4O7339R
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 22, 2021
The third seed seized control from that point, racing 4-0 ahead in the second set before sealing a deserved victory.
Osaka has now won two Australian Open titles after also triumphing at Melbourne Park in 2019, with her other Grand Slam successes coming at the US Open in 2018 and 2020.
She has not suffered a defeat since February 2020 after extending her winning run to 21 matches.
Osaka’s face lit up with a wide grin, raising her racquet above her head, when she clinched the title on her first match point after Brady looped a return long.
Once @naomiosaka gets you on the run…it's lights out. 🏃♀️#bondisands | @bondisands | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/tK5QOxEVzW
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 21, 2021
Around 7,500 fans were allowed to watch the final on Rod Laver Arena and Osaka lapped up the acclaim after her US Open victory came behind closed doors.
Osaka is the first women’s player to win her first four Grand Slam finals since Monica Seles in 1991.
