Tennis star Naomi Osaka secured her 4th Grand Slam Title on Saturday, after beating opponent Jennifer Grady at the Australian Open in a 6-4, 6-3 victory over the course of 77 minutes.
Osaka, 23, previously won the Australian Open in 2019.
Her recent win furthered a lifelong dream to dominate the world of tennis during a lengthy match where nerves prevailed in the first half of the match.
“I have been in the position that she is in to go into the first Slam,” Osaka said, referring to Brady. “Of course I know the nerves that come with that. But then I was thinking on the other side, for me, I wonder if I’m expected to do better because I have been in Slam finals before. So there was actually a lot of nerves with that.”
Osaka faced a bittersweet victory earlier in the week after she beat her childhood idol Serena Williams during the semifinals round of the tournament.
“It’s very intimidating to serve for the first game and see her on the other side off the net,” Osaka said.
Osaka, who is carrying on the legacy the Williams sisters built, described her joy of returning to compete in front of fans during a pandemic that has taken so much from every aspect of life.
Due to the adjusted point system in response to the pandemic, Osaka rose from the number three rank, to the number 2 women’s tennis player in the world. But that number is merely a placeholder as she continues her ascension as tennis brightest star.
Leading up to the Open, Osaka made headlines at the height of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations this past fall where she donned masks with the names of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless others, paying a visual homage to the many Black community members killed by the police.
Osaka forges ahead to compete in the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July.
1. 2021 Australian Open: Day 13
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 20: Naomi Osaka of Japan hits a forehand against Jennifer Brady of the United States in the women’s singles final, during day 13 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 20, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images) photography,people,one person,horizontal,usa,adult,sport,women,australia,three quarter length,tennis,grand slam,individual event,melbourne – australia,taking a shot – sport,japan,forehand,day 13,australian tennis open,international tennis federation,naomi osaka,melbourne park,open competition,2021,jennifer brady
2. 2021 Australian Open: Day 13
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 20: Naomi Osaka of Japan hits a forehand against Jennifer Brady of the United States in the women’s singles final, during day 13 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 20, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images) photography,people,full length,one person,horizontal,usa,adult,sport,women,australia,tennis,grand slam,individual event,melbourne – australia,taking a shot – sport,japan,forehand,day 13,australian tennis open,international tennis federation,naomi osaka,melbourne park,open competition,2021,jennifer brady
3. TENNIS-AUS-OPEN
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Japan’s Naomi Osaka hits a return against Jennifer Brady of the US during their women’s singles final match on day thirteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 20, 2021. (Photo by David Gray / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images) photography,horizontal,adult,sport,day,women,competition,australia,match – sport,tennis,grand slam,individual event,melbourne – australia,victoria – australia,japan,returning,australian tennis open,international tennis federation,naomi osaka,open competition,jennifer brady
4. 2021 Australian Open: Day 13
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 20: Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a backhand in her Women’s Singles Final match against Jennifer Brady of the United States during day 13 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 20, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) photography,people,one person,horizontal,usa,adult,sport,women,final round,australia,three quarter length,match – sport,tennis,sports activity,grand slam,individual event,melbourne – australia,taking a shot – sport,japan,day 13,australian tennis open,backhand stroke,international tennis federation,naomi osaka,melbourne park,open competition,2021,jennifer brady
5. 2021 Australian Open: Day 13
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 20: Naomi Osaka of Japan hits a forehand against Jennifer Brady of the United States in the women’s singles final, during day 13 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 20, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images) photography,people,one person,horizontal,usa,adult,sport,women,australia,three quarter length,incidental people,tennis,grand slam,individual event,melbourne – australia,taking a shot – sport,japan,forehand,day 13,australian tennis open,international tennis federation,naomi osaka,melbourne park,open competition,2021,jennifer brady
6. 2021 Australian Open: Day 13
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 20: Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates winning championship point in her Women’s Singles Final match against Jennifer Brady of the United States during day 13 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 20, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images) photography,people,full length,one person,horizontal,usa,adult,celebration,smiling,sport,women,final round,australia,match – sport,winning,tennis,grand slam,individual event,championship,melbourne – australia,japan,day 13,australian tennis open,international tennis federation,naomi osaka,melbourne park,open competition,2021,jennifer brady
7. 2021 Australian Open: Day 13
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 20: Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates winning championship point in her Women’s Singles Final match against Jennifer Brady of the United States during day 13 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 20, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) photography,people,full length,horizontal,usa,adult,celebration,sport,happiness,women,two people,final round,australia,match – sport,winning,tennis,grand slam,individual event,championship,melbourne – australia,japan,day 13,australian tennis open,international tennis federation,naomi osaka,melbourne park,open competition,2021,jennifer brady
8. 2021 Australian Open: Day 13
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 20: Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates winning championship point in her Women’s Singles Final match against Jennifer Brady of the United States during day 13 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 20, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images) color image,photography,people,one person,horizontal,usa,adult,celebration,waist up,smiling,sport,women,final round,australia,incidental people,match – sport,winning,tennis,grand slam,individual event,championship,melbourne – australia,japan,day 13,australian tennis open,international tennis federation,naomi osaka,melbourne park,open competition,2021,jennifer brady
9. TENNIS-AUS-OPEN
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Japan’s Naomi Osaka poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup trophy after defeating Jennifer Brady of the US in their women’s singles final match on day thirteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 20, 2021. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images) photography,people,one person,horizontal,adult,topix,portrait,headshot,smiling,sport,day,women,competition,australia,incidental people,match – sport,winning,tennis,grand slam,individual event,melbourne – australia,victoria – australia,japan,australian tennis open,international tennis federation,trophy – award,naomi osaka,open competition,jennifer brady
10. TOPSHOT-TENNIS-AUS-OPEN-PODIUM
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TOPSHOT – Japan’s Naomi Osaka holds the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup trophy after beating Jennifer Brady of the US to win their women’s singles final match on day thirteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 20, 2021. (Photo by Paul CROCK / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by PAUL CROCK/AFP via Getty Images) photography,horizontal,adult,topix,sport,day,holding,women,competition,australia,match – sport,winning,tennis,grand slam,individual event,melbourne – australia,victoria – australia,japan,australian tennis open,international tennis federation,trophy – award,naomi osaka,open competition,jennifer brady
11. 2021 Australian Open: Day 13
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 20: Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates with the Trophy after defeating Jennifer Brady of the United States in the women’s singles final, during day 13 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 20, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images) photography,people,one person,horizontal,usa,adult,celebration,waist up,sport,women,australia,incidental people,winning,tennis,grand slam,individual event,melbourne – australia,japan,day 13,australian tennis open,international tennis federation,trophy – award,naomi osaka,melbourne park,open competition,2021,jennifer brady
12. TENNIS-AUS-OPEN-PODIUM
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Japan’s Naomi Osaka holds the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup trophy during a victory lap following her win over Jennifer Brady of the US in their women’s singles final match on day thirteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 20, 2021. (Photo by David Gray / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images) photography,horizontal,adult,success,sport,day,holding,women,competition,australia,match – sport,tennis,grand slam,individual event,melbourne – australia,victoria – australia,japan,australian tennis open,international tennis federation,trophy – award,naomi osaka,open competition,jennifer brady
13. 2021 Australian Open: Day 13
Source:Getty
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 20: Naomi Osaka of Japan poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning her Women’s Singles Final match against Jennifer Brady of the United States during day 13 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 20, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) photography,people,full length,one person,horizontal,usa,adult,topix,portrait,smiling,sport,women,final round,australia,match – sport,winning,tennis,grand slam,individual event,melbourne – australia,japan,day 13,australian tennis open,international tennis federation,naomi osaka,melbourne park,open competition,2021,jennifer brady
