ITF

34 ITFWorld // SPRING 2019 Osaka and Djokovic ensured a repeat of New York by claiming singles glory at the Australian Open A U S T R A L I A N O P E N AS RISES TO THE TOP GO, NAOMI OSAKA'S HAS BEEN METEORIC AND SHE ROCKETED TO THE SUMMIT OF THE WOMEN'S GAME BY claiming back-to-back Grand Slam titles courtesy of a pulsating victory over Petra Kvitova in the Australian Open singles final in January. The 21-year-old held her nerve amid the tension of a decisive set to prevail 7-6(2) 5-7 6-4, having wasted three championship points in the second set after seizing control by navigating a tiebreak in the first. Following a winner-takes-all encounter, Osaka not only became the first player since American Jennifer Capriati in 2001 to claim successive majors after a maiden triumph, she also assumed the status of world No. 1. The Japanese, who 12 months earlier had been ranked No. 72, became the first Asian player to occupy the No. 1 spot and the youngest since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010. "I had dreams I'd win this tournament," said Osaka. "Every time I have a dream somehow I accomplish it. I feel like it's a strange moment. I feel like I'm living now but it is not necessarily real. The ranking was never really a goal, my goal was to just win this tournament." It proved a glory-filled night for Osaka but, whoever the victor, success would likely have proven poignant. Kvitova, of course, had risen from the wreckage of despair, having been stabbed in her left playing hand during a terrifying robbery at her Prostejov home in December 2016. MELBOURNE STARS ➝

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