Osaka wins U.S. Open to confi rm status as a star
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | SEPT. 18-SEPT. 25, 2020 25
en’s tour responded
by postponing all the
matches that were due to
take place on the day of
the protest by 24 hours
and persuaded Osaka to
contest the rescheduled
match.
By taking the stand,
the 22-year-old activist
had made her point.
Azarenka, who ended
Serena Williams bid for
a record equalling 24th
Grand Slam title in the
semi-finals, carried that
momentum into the final
with a near flawless first
set.
One of top returners in
the women’s game, an energized
Azarenka broke
the fourth seed to start
the final and twice more
in a lopsided opening set
that took just 27 minutes.
If any spectators had
been allowed in Arthur
Ashe Stadium, they no
doubt would have been
left stunned by events as
a rampaging Azarenka
again broke Osaka at the
first opportunity in the
second to go 2-0 up.
But Osaka would not
lose her composure.
After no aces in the
opening set, Osaka, one
of the game’s top servers,
slowly began to find
her mark in the second.
She hammered down five
aces while helping herself
to three breaks on way to
levelling the match.
In the third it was Osaka
applying all the early
pressure on an increasingly
rattled Azarenka.
She took charge with a
break to nudge in front
3-1.
Azarenka would show
her fighting spirit with a
break to get back on serve
at 3-4 but Osaka would not
be denied, immediately
breaking back and holding
serve to seal victory.
BY AMY TENNERY
Naomi Osaka ended
Victoria Azarenka’s
dream run to claim her
second U.S. Open title in
three years with a 1-6 6-3
6-3 comeback win on Saturday
which cemented
her status as the sport’s
leading light both on and
off the court.
Unlike the 22-year-old
Japanese’s first U.S. Open
win in 2018 over Serena
Williams, which was
played in a frothing Arthur
Ashe Stadium, Saturday’s
drama unfolded
in a strangely quiet arena
as COVID-19 health and
safety protocols prevented
fans from entering the
Billie Jean King National
Tennis Center.
But the lack of buzz
around the stands did not
stop the two former world
number ones from producing
a dazzling display
of shot making.
As Osaka walked off
with a third Grand Slam
title, Azarenka was denied
a U.S. Open crown
for a third time having
also finished runner-up
in 2012 and 2013.
Still it was a remarkable
and unexpected run
for the 31-year-old Belarusian,
who reached her
first major final in seven
years.
It was the second time
in two weeks Azarenka,
twice a winner at the Australian
Open, and Osaka
had set up a final showdown.
The pair had been
set to meet in the Western
and Southern Open final
on Aug. 29 until Osaka
withdrew due to a hamstring
injury.
“I actually don’t want
to play you in more finals,”
Osaka told Azarenka
with a smile during
the victory ceremony.
“I didn’t really enjoy
that.
“That was a really
tough match for me.
“And yes, really inspiring
for me because
I used to watch you play
here when I was younger
so just to have the opportunity
to play you is really
great and I learned
a lot.”
COVID-19 era
The presentation ceremony
showed the precautions
everyone has had to
take during the COVID-19
era, with the two finalists
having to pick up their
respective prizes themselves
from a table placed
on court, while everyone
stood socially distant for
the obligatory photocall.
As she has done in
every match over the
past fortnight, Osaka appeared
on court with her
left thigh strapped and a
facemask with the name
of a Black American victim
of police brutality or
racial injustice.
For the final it was
Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old
boy shot by police in 2014
while playing with a toy
gun in a playgound.
Osaka had already replaced
Serena Williams
as top earner and now has
assumed the leadership
mantle that goes with it.
With the United States
rocked by unrest following
the shooting of Jacob
Blake, a Black man, just
three weeks ago by police
in Kenosha, Wisconsin,
Osaka had withdrawn
from her semi-final at the
Western and Southern
Open in protest.
The men’s and wom-
Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates with the championship
trophy. Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
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