Naomi Osaka claimed the US Open title for a second time with an incredible come back win against against Victoria Azarenka in a compelling US Open final at a closed Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday.
Japanese fourth seed Osaka, 22, won 1-6 6-3 6-3 for her third Grand Slam title.
It was a belated match up between both players who were supposed to meet in the final of the Western and Southern Open ahead just before the US Open but Osaka pulled out with a hamstring injury, handing the title to Azarenka by default.
Osaka, sporting a heavily strapped left thigh was steamrolled in a heavily one-sided first set and was down a break at start of the second before recovering to win 10 of the next 11 games to turn the tie on its head.
Belarusian Azarenka, on an 11 match winning streak and playing in her first major final since the 2013 US Open which she also lost, lost serve for 5-3 in the decider.
She has now lost all three of her finals at Flushing Meadows including two on the trot to semifinal opponent Serena Williams in 2012 and 2013.
But despite the defeat, two-time Australian Open winner Azarenka who has endured difficulties on and off the court since returning to playing after giving birth to son Leo in 2016, will take a lot of positives from her performances in New York and at the Western and Southern Open.
Osaka released pent up tension with a joyous shriek as she took her second match point.
The Japanese three-time major winner showed incredible bottle to raise her game after a disastrous opening set and a slow start to the second and Azarenka’s early intensity wilted in the face of the rejuvenated Osaka.
The victory ensured Osaka, who won the 2018 US Open and 2019 Australian Open kept her record of winning every Grand Slam final she has played in.
