New York (AFP)
The Japanese Naomi Osaka, 9th in the world, won the US Open on Saturday, her third Grand Slam title, by turning over a badly started final against the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka (27th) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.
At 22, Osaka, already a winner at Flushing Meadows in 2018 and at the Australian Open in 2019, will find third place on Monday in the WTA rankings.
"I don't want to play more finals against you, it was too hard," Osaka said to his opponent upon receiving his trophy.
Led 6-1, 2-0 without having existed, the former world No. 1 suddenly found his game and in particular his service.
And little by little, it was she who got hold of the match.
The game then became one-sided, but in Osaka's favor this time, up to 4-2 for the Japanese in the last set.
At that moment, Azarenka had a start by resuming the face-off of his opponent to return to 4-3.
But Osaka immediately regained the advantage and concluded in stride.
"Never two without three, as they say. I will have to try again ...", commented for her part Azarenka, also ex-world No. 1, in reference to her two finals lost at the US Open in 2012 and 2013. It therefore remains with two major titles on the clock: the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013.
At 31, however, she returns to the highest level after giving birth in 2016 and postponed her return until mid-season 2018 due to a legal battle for custody of her son.
© 2020 AFP