MadameNoire
Source: TPN / Getty
Naomi Osaka has become victorious again after she won her second Australian Open title and fourth Grand Slam win. The 23-year-old defeated Jennifer Brady in a 6-3, 6-3 match in under one hour and a half, CNN reported.
Only two active tennis players have more Grand Slam wins than her: her “idol” Serena Williams, who has won 23, and her sister Venus Williams, who has seven. Serena Williams and Osaka matched up again for the fifth time and Osaka won with 6-2 and 6-4 matches. This win pushes Osaka up to the number two spot of WTA’s ranking of women’s tennis players. The number one spot is held by Australian player Ashleigh Barty.
Osaka said she isn’t focused on chasing the number one spot though and is instead focused on being one of the hardest players in the game.
“I feel like I’m at a really good place right now,” Osaka told the New York Times. “I just want to play every match as hard as I can. If it comes to the point were I’m able to be No. 1 again, I’ll embrace it, but I’m not really chasing it.”
Read Osaka’s victory speech below.
“Firstly I want to congratulate Jennifer, we played in the semis of the US Open, so a couple of months ago, and I told anyone that would listen that you were going to be a problem — and I was right!”
“I want to thank my team, I’ve been with them too long. We’ve been through quarantine together and for me they’re like my family, they’re with me through training, matches, nervous talks before my matches, I’m really appreciative of them, so this one’s for you.“I want to thank you guys [the fans], thank you for coming and watching … I didn’t play my last grand slam [the US Open] with fans so just to have this energy it really means a lot, thanks so much for coming. Thank you for opening your hearts and your arms towards us and for sure I feel like playing a grand slam right now is a super-privilege … so thank you for this opportunity.”
