So, Naomi Osaka wins her third grand slam title and second in New York, two years on from her first in 2018. The question remains to be seen how many she will win, right now it certainly looks like a fair few. She didn’t get off to the best of starts with Vika coming out firing and looking every bit the player that turned it on against Serena on Thursday. The match and momentum switched with Azarenka a break up in the second. What she did to Serena, Osaka did to her last night. When you are on top, you need to stay on top and a slight dip in levels can let your opponent back in and before you know it, you are never really in control again. That shows the type of Champion Naomi is though. She has that gift to stay afloat when not playing her best and turn matches on there head with brilliance. She turned this around just as Williams and Azarenka have done to other numerous times in the past.

Her seven masks with the names of Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Philando Castile and Tamir Rice, have raised awareness of the black victims of police or racist violence in the US. Rice was just a 12-year-old boy, who was killed by police gunfire in Cleveland, Ohio in November 2014 while he was holding a toy replica pistol. A police car moved close to Rice and less than two seconds later, an officer shot the boy. If you are a tennis fan you should take ten minutes to read up on each of these names if you haven’t. It is a reality. When asked about the message of the seven names Osaka replied “What was the message that you got was more the question. I feel like the point is to make people start talking.” She has certainly done that and she deserves credit for being a true champion and a great role model.

I felt for Vika, let’s be honest she has proved herself as a champion not just here but over many years. but this just wasn’t to be. She threw everything at it but her legs weren’t getting any fresher and Osaka’s level was that bit too high. It is great to see her at the top level of the game again though and long may that continue.

Let’s see what happens in the men’s final tonight, where we will have a new Grand Slam Champion crowned.

Andy Del Potro