Osaka wins Australian Open, second straight Grand Slam title

KYODO NEWS

- Jan 26, 2019 - 20:53 All,Sports

Naomi Osaka of Japan smiles after winning the Australian Open by defeating Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in Melbourne on Jan. 26, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts after winning a point against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during the women's final of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Jan. 26, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts after defeating Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the women's final of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Jan. 26, 2019. The victory marked her second straight Grand Slam title, making her the first Japanese singles player to secure the No. 1 spot in the world rankings. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Naomi Osaka of Japan is celebrated by spectators after defeating Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the women's final of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Jan. 26, 2019. The victory marked her second straight Grand Slam title, making her the first Japanese singles player to secure the No. 1 spot in the world rankings. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Naomi Osaka of Japan (L) poses with Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic after winning the Australian Open tennis tournament by defeating her in Melbourne on Jan. 26, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Photo taken at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Jan. 26, 2019, shows the Australian Open final match between Naomi Osaka (L) of Japan and Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic. Osaka won the Grand Slam title. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic makes a speech during a ceremony after the Australian Open final match between her and Naomi Osaka of Japan in Melbourne on Jan. 26, 2019. She was defeated by Osaka 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-4. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Children celebrate in Niiza, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, on Jan. 26, 2019, after Naomi Osaka of Japan beat Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the women's final of the Australian Open in Melbourne earlier in the day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Photo taken at a tennis center in Osaka on Jan. 26, 2019, shows children cheering for Naomi Osaka of Japan during her Australian Open final against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in Melbourne. Osaka won the Grand Slam title. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Naomi Osaka of Japan (L) is pictured with Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic after beating her to win the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Jan. 26, 2019, for her second straight Grand Slam title. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Students celebrate Naomi Osaka's victory at the Australian Open at a tennis school Niiza, Saitama Prefecture, on Jan. 26, 2019. (Kyodo)

Japan's Naomi Osaka claimed her second straight Grand Slam title Saturday with a 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-4 victory over the Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova in the Australian Open final.Following a closely contested first set, 21-year-old Osaka looked in control of the second at Rod Laver Arena before the 28-year-old No. 8 seed Kvitova fought back to force a decider.But No. 4 seed Osaka overcame problems with her serve to take the third and final set, guaranteeing she will be the first Japanese world No. 1 when the next WTA rankings are released.Thanking her team and her opponent, Osaka said she was "…READ FULL ARTICLE

Osaka wins Australian Open, second straight Grand Slam title

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