Naomi Osaka defeated Petra Kvitova 7-6(2) 5-7 6-4  to win the Australian Open on Saturday.  The win earned her the world number one ranking .  She is the first player from an Asian country to hold the world number one ranking.  With her US Open win over Serena in 2018, Osaka now has won two back to back grand slam titles.

In a 2 hr 27 minute match, Osaka blew three championship points in the second set but stayed focused to win.  The shy and humble Japanese player told  Kvitova during her speech at the trophy presentation,  “I’m really honored to have played you in the final of a Grand Slam”. She added, ” I read notes before this but I still forgot the rest of what I was supposed to say”.