Big-serving, hard-hitting Naomi Osaka has been raising her return game on her way to winning the Australian Open for the second time Saturday night.
American Jennifer Brady tried to pressure Osaka with her serve, one of which was recorded at 184 kph during the final. While Osaka hit one at 197 kph, the average speed of their first serve was basically the same: 176 kph for Osaka, 175 kph for Brady.
The 23-year-old Japanese star, though, took home her fourth Grand Slam by returning many of the heavy serves to Brady's backhand side, not giving the 25-year-old American as many chances to employ her more dangerous forehand. Osaka, the No. 3 seed, broke first in both sets on her way to the 6-4, 6-3 victory.
"Tonight I felt it was more of a mental battle," Osaka said in an interview after the match. "I think we were both nervous. Of course, I can't speak for [Brady] but I was extremely nervous."
Nerves aside, Osaka was prepared to take on the American and her big serve, having also dominated one of the top servers in the game in U.S. legend Serena Williams in the semifinals.
Osaka's emphasis on improving her return game stemmed from the U.S. Open final she won last year. She said that after defeating Victoria Azarenka in three sets, she wanted to hit powerful returns like the Belarusian.
Brady hit only 48% of her first serves in, perhaps a sign that Osaka's returns were putting pressure on the 22nd seed. Osaka was proud of her progress, saying her serve wasn't very good (first serves in also at 48%), but her return was a savior. Though she was credited with only one return winner, Brady had none. When receiving serve, Osaka won 42% of the points, compared to Brady's 33% on Osaka's serve.
Of the past nine Grand Slams held, Osaka has won four titles, including the 2018 and 2020 U.S. Open, and the 2019 Australian Open. During this time, Osaka is the only woman to win more than one Slam, with her prowess on hard courts evident.
After the match, she said she wanted to do well in the upcoming French Open on clay, Wimbledon on grass and the Tokyo Olympics. She took home prize money of A2.75 million dollars (about 227 million yen).
Born in Osaka to a Haitian father and Japanese mother, she began playing tennis at age 3 and turned pro in 2013. Her 2018 U.S. Open victory was the first Grand Slam title for a Japanese singles player.
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