Australian Open 2021 Women's Final Highlights: Naomi Osaka won her fourth Grand Slam. (File)Australian Open 2021 Women’s Singles Final Highlights: Naomi Osaka took her Grand Slam tally up to four on Saturday after she beat Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-3 in the women’s singles final of the 2021 Australian Open at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
Osaka, the first Japanese player to win a major, extended her perfect record in a major final with a resounding win over the first-time finalist. After triumphing over the likes of Serena Williams, Garbine Muguruza, Ons Jabeur, and Hsieh Su-wei during her stay in Melbourne, she downed the American with ease. Although the first set proved to be a tricky for the third seed, Osaka wrapped things up quickly in the second despite suffering a tiny bobble in the middle.
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Osaka serves for her second title in Melbourne! She races to 15-0 with an unreturnable forehand. Brady succumbs to the pressure and gifts a point with an unforced error. Another point, and now Osaka has three match points! Osaka seals it! She wins 6-4, 6-3!
Brady serves to stay in the final and Osaka takes the first point effortlessly from the net. Brady makes it 15-15 with her trusted forehand. After an out by Osaka, Brady returns the favour with an overpowered backhand. 30-30. Brady dives down and makes it 40-30 with a returning backhand to the corner of the court. Osaka takes it to deuce afterwards. Brady holds and keeps herself alive.
Osaka looks to hold her serve safely and quickly gathers up two early points. Then, a 16-shot rally ensues and Brady wins a point after Osaka's return hit the net and wobbled over outside. Brady makes it 40-30, but a skewed return hands the game to Osaka.
Brady has found a second wind now and she rides it to absolutely steamroll Osaka's confidence. The American holds to love.
Osaka seeks to hold her serve again, but Brady rises to the occasion and matches her every effort. 30-30 after Osaka fails to clear the net. But she hits back with a brilliant backhand from the middle of the court. Brady's fiery forehand takes it to deuce and she earns the advantage, just her second break point. She holds firm and breaks Osaka on the second attempt. Can she turn it around?
The unforced errors are starting to creep up on Brady as she commits her 24th one to let Osaka go ahead on 15-40. Another break.
The Japanese is on a roll now! She relies on her athletic ability and Brady's inconsistency and takes it to 40-0. An ace seals it.
Osaka has it too easy now! She powers through to 15-40 with a powerful backhand. Brady seems off of it now as she gets broken.
Osaka is in the driving seat now and she starts confidently! Two poor backhands and two poor returns from Brady makes it 30-0. Osaka returns the favour by hitting the net then Brady makes it 30-30. Osaka doesn't deter and takes the opening game!
Brady starts brilliantly as she wraps up two quick points with her forehand but an unforced error makes it 30-15. Brady and Osaka continue their fight with a lot of errors, and an American one makes it deuce. Osaka wraps up the set with yet another error.
Brady puts her in a spot of bother but her unforced error makes it 30-30. She immediately comes up with a magical moment as she covers the court to lob Osaka over her head for a point. Osaka then wins a rally to make it deuce. She holds her nerve to the end.
Brady starts well as she keeps on connecting her baseline forehands but Osaka hits back with a powerful winner. Brady loses her concentration and makes it 30-30. Osaka goes ahead but an unforced error makes it deuce. Brady survives and wins the game.
After winning the first point, Osaka is now starting to misfire from the baseline. First, a backhand that goes overboard and then a skewed forehand that makes it 15-30. She pulls back relying on her first serve and then seals the game with an ace and a winner.
Brady continues with her momentum as she races to 40-0. Osaka's weak forehand return makes it too easy for her. Holds for love.
Brady shows up with her resilience again as she hits back with a break of her own! Osaka takes it to deuce, but Brady edges it.
Brady faces first serve issues as she again loses serve. A double fault and a backhand error and she is down 0-40 in no time.
Osaka is back on serve and loses the first point via an unforced error, the only point dropped in the opening two service games. Osaka is really drilling the ball into the backhand side of Brady which is causing early problems for the 25-year-old.
Confidence boost for Brady as she takes the next game. From 40-0 to deuce twice, a nervy first service game for Jennifer Brady but a backhand error from Osaka gives her a hold of serve.
Osaka sends down two aces and another Brady cannot return on her way to holding serve to love. A good and confident start by the three-time champion
Jennifer Brady and Naomi Osaka have started play in the final of the Australian Open women's singles. Osaka won the toss and elected to serve.
The finalists are on the court and the match is set to begin soon. Osaka eyes fourth Grand Slam against first-time finalist Brady.
Both Naomi Osaka and Jennifer Brady come into the final on the back of contrasting victories in their respective semifinals. The third seed Osaka defeated the tenth seed Serena Williams in straight sets 6–3, 6–4 while the 22nd seed Brady was made to work hard before getting the better of the 25th seed Karolina Muchova 6–4, 3–6, 6–4. Osaka leads the head-to-head 2-1 though.
At 23, Naomi Osaka is fast developing the aura that helped Serena Williams amass 23 Grand Slam titles. Once prone to the occasional breakdown on court, Osaka has been all business at Melbourne Park and paid tribute to her coach Wim Fissette and team for helping her forge a stronger mental game. The first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam title, Osaka said, "Of course, it’s nice to see your name on a trophy or your name on a wall. But I think bigger than that, I feel like I’m playing with a different purpose."
“I just want to do really well as a vessel for everyone’s hard work," concluded the three-time major winner.
Jennifer Brady spent two weeks in hard quarantine gathering mental strength for her tilt at a maiden Grand Slam title and will hope there is plenty in reserve when she takes on Naomi Osaka in the Australian Open final. Now the rising 25-year-old faces the ultimate test of her resilience against Osaka, who beat her in the US Open semi-finals on the way to her third Grand Slam triumph.
“I don’t know how I’m going to feel on Saturday,” said the American. “I can say I can enjoy the moment and just try to play tennis and not really think too much about it, but there’s going to be moments, there’s going to be games, there’s going to be points where I’m going to be thinking about, ‘Wow, this could be my first Grand Slam title’.”
Hello and welcome to the live commentary of the women's singles final of the 2021 Australian Open! Third seed Naomi Osaka is all set to win her fourth Grand Slam and maintain her 20-match winning streak against 22nd seed Jennifer Brady. Stay tuned for more!