Naomi Osaka crowned US Open champion after stunning comeback victory over Victoria Azarenka
Naomi Osaka produced a stunning comeback to claim her second US Open title with a scintillating victory over Victoria Azarenka.
The 22-year-old, who won the tournament at Flushing Meadows in 2018, lost the opening set 6-1 in just 26 minutes but showed incredible heart, desire and quality to come back and continue her 100 per cent record in Grand Slam finals.
After claiming her third major triumph, Osaka will now rise to third in the world rankings, having slipped to ninth after failing to defend her Australian Open title.
Defeat brings an end to a highly successful fortnight for Azarenka, who reached her first major final since 2013 after winning a first title in four years at the Western & Southern Open two weeks ago.
Osaka - who has started quickly throughout the tournament - won the toss and elected to serve first, but it was Azarenka who drew first blood, breaking in the opening game after the 22-year-old double-faulted at 15-30.
Your 2020 US Open Champion, @naomiosaka!
The 22-year-old reigns over Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 to claim a third Grand Slam title in as many finals. pic.twitter.com/Qu95cvvDSH— wta (@WTA)
It quickly went from bad to worse for Osaka, as Azarenka played a near-perfect set to break a further two times and take the opener 6-1, hitting just three unforced errors to her opponent's 13.
It was the first time Osaka had lost the opening set at this year's US Open and she soon found herself further behind as Azarenka claimed a fourth break of the match at the start of the second.
Osaka found inspiration from the depths within, however, finding the switch to raise her game. After six consecutive games, and with a point to make it 3-0, the Belarusian was broken in three consecutive service games as Osaka took the match into a final-set decider.
The Japanese star hadn't lost a deciding set at the US Open for three years, and in an almost perfect reversal of the first set, she broke early after Azarenka handed her two opportunities with a double-fault at 15-30.
Perhaps the pivotal moment came in the fifth game of the decider, as Osaka saved three break points from 0-40 down to move 4-1 ahead and within two games of the title.
And though Osaka was broken in the seventh game, she showed unwavering fortitude once more to hit straight back, before taking the final set and consequently the match.
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