Naomi Osaka: The giant killer eyes her second US Open title

Japan’s Naomi Osaka is set to face Belarusian Victoria Azarenka at the US Open women’s singles final that will be played on Saturday. Osaka, 22, beat Jennifer Brady in the semi-finals.

Osaka who is of Japanese-Haitian descent stunned the world and her opponent, Serena Williams, by winning the US Open final in 2018, thus becoming the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title.

She won her second Grand Slam title the next year, by winning the Australian Open by defeating Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic.

She ranks ninth by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). She was ranked the first in the past, thus being the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles.

She has five WTA titles to her credit. 

Both Osaka and Azarenka have remained unbeaten since tennis resumed after a long coronavirus induced hiatus.

Other than laser-sharp focus, what caught everyone’s attention was Osaka’s anti-racism activism in the court. During the US Open matches, the player donned face coverings bearing the names of Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin and George Floyd, all African American persons who were victims of institutional racism in the United States. 

Osaka was set to clash with Azarenka two weeks ago at the final of the Western & Southern Open, but she withdrew due to a left hamstring injury.