Victoria Azarenka and Naomi Osaka will both be eyeing their third Grand Slam title when they clash in the final of the US Open 2020 on Saturday. Osaka, the fourth seed, has won two major tennis trophies in the last two years. For Azarenka, a former world number one, it would be a first since 2013.

It’s a matchup between one of the game’s young stars, going from strength to strength, and a veteran whose career is rejuvenated after several years in the doldrums.

In the US Open this year, which is being played behind closed doors, Osaka has grabbed the eyeballs not only with her fearless brand of tennis but also for lending her voice to the Black Lives Matter protests. The player donned face coverings bearing the names of Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin and George Floyd, all African Americans who were victims of institutional racism in the United States.

The 22-year-old has also issued a warning to her opponent saying that she’s better prepared than when she stunned Serena Williams in the 2018 US Open final.

“I would say I feel like my mindset is much different this time around,” said Japan’s Osaka, following her three-set semi-final win over American Jennifer Brady.

“I feel like I’ve learned so much through the ups and downs, not even counting the finals, but just regular tour tournaments.

“I would say mentally I feel stronger. I feel fitter now. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens,” Osaka added.

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Azarenka, 31, is brimming with confidence after coming from a set down to stun her old rival Williams and book a third US Open final.

Her last appearance in a final of a tennis major was in the 2013 US Open, where she was defeated by Serena Williams.

Azarenka’s two major titles came at the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013.

She has endured a difficult few years. Injury plagued 2014 and 2015 before her career was further disrupted by a custody battle over her son, born in December 2016.

Azarenka has clawed her way back up into the WTA rankings and is currently ranked 27th. She is enjoying a fairytale run at the US Open after claiming last month’s Western and Southern Open tune-up event in New York.

If she defeats Osaka then she will become only the fourth women — after Belgium’s Kim Clijsters, Court and fellow Australian Evonne Goolagong — to win Grand Slam singles titles in the Open era after having children.

Azarenka says she is benefitting from a more Zen outlook on life and revelling in the fact that few commentators expected the unseeded player to mount a challenge.

“Mentally I’m in such a different place. I think seven years ago, after I won the Australian Open… it was kind of expected for me to be in the final.

“I don’t think that was the case this year. It feels more fun this year, more fulfilling, more pleasant for me.”

Osaka and Azarenka have unfinished business after the Japanese pulled out of the Western and Southern final due to a hamstring injury, handing the title to Azarenka.