Japan’s Naomi Osaka wins Australian Open, maintains perfect record in Grand Slam finals

Japan’s Naomi Osaka maintained her perfect record in Grand Slam deciders into the Australian Open final on Saturday. She beat America’s Jennifer Brady in straight sets to clinch her second trophy at the Melbourne Park. 

The 23-year-old from Japan has won half the majors she’s contested since her first Slam title at the US Open final in 2018 — an infamous match forever remembered for Serena Williams’s implosion.

Osaka edged a tight first set and broke twice in the second to win 6-4, 6-3 in 77 minutes in front of thousands of fans at Rod Laver Arena.

Naomi Osaka also became the first woman since Monica Seles to win her first four major finals. She will now rise to second in the world rankings.

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Osaka, rated as the world’s top-earning female athlete, saved two match points in the fourth round against Garbine Muguruza before going on to lift the trophy.

Osaka, who also beat her idol Serena Williams in straight sets in the semi-finals, has not lost a match in more than a year.