NAOMI OSAKA
Naomi Osaka overcame nerves, tears and a spirited challenge from double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova to claim the Australian Open title with a 7-6 5-7 6-4 win.
It was a second successive Grand Slam crown for the Japanese, after her U.S. Open triumph in September, and she became the first Asian player to claim the world number one ranking in the process.
According to RadioNZ.com, Osaka shed tears after losing the second set from a 5-3 lead but returned to the court after a washroom break calmer and more composed.
The 21-year-old Osaka became the youngest women’s world number one since Dane Caroline Wozniacki, who was 20 when she topped the rankings in 2010.
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal takes on Novak Djokovic at 9.30pm tonight in the men’s final.
