Naomi Osaka is a two time US Open champion via Flickr Creative Commons from Si Robi
Naomi Osaka Saturday rallied from behind to beat Victoria Azarenka to win her second US Open title.
After her first title in 2018, much of the crowd booed, still upset over some controversial calls from an umpire . This time they were mostly silent as the finals were played before a largely empty stadium at center court of Flushing Meadows due to the coronavirus.
She laid down at Center Court staring toward the sky to soak in her victory after her 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 win.
“I always see everyone collapse after match point, but I always think you may injure yourself so I wanted to do it safely,” joked Osaka, according to USA Today.
Much of the attention on Osaka during this tournament centered on her choice of masks, as each one she wore featured the name of an African American killed in a controversial police shooting. Her mask today had the name of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy killed in 2014 in Cleveland.
“The point is to make people start talking,” the New York Times reported Osaka said at the awards ceremony.
The two time US Open champion got off to a slow start losing 1-6, but she came roaring back in each of the last two sets. She later remarked that she feared losing the grand slam in less than an hour.
According to the Times, she is the first player in 26 years to win the US Open women’s singles finals after losing the opening set.
She is expected to wake up Monday at the number 3 ranked women tennis player in the world.
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