Women's US Open Final Preview- Osaka vs Azarenka
The women’s US Open final sees two double Grand Slam winners face off against each other. Naomi Osaka faces Victoria Azarenka in Saturday’s final.
The resurgent Azarenka secured her place in the final by beating 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in three sets in the semi-finals. This is Azarenka’s first Grand Slam final since losing to Williams in the US Open final in 2013.
Azarenka won her first title in four years in the build-up to the US Open after Naomi Osaka withdrew from the match. Azarenka is currently ranked 27th in the world and has a shot at adding the US Open to her resume.
This is the 31-year-old’s first Grand Slam final since returning to the court after the birth of her son in December 2016.
The two-time US Open finalist feels like she is better mentally prepared than in previous finals. "Mentally I'm in such a different place. I think seven years ago, after I won the Australian Open, and playing consistently with good results, it was kind of expected for me to be in the final," said Azarenka.
"I don't think that was the case this year.
"But it feels more fun this year, more fulfilling, more pleasant for me. It feels nicer."
Azarenka has had little time on the court over the past year before the shutdown of sport, only winning one match over the course of a year before winning the Western and Southern Open.
Her opponent, however, has been active and consistent since winning her first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2018.
The former world number one, who has slipped to 10th in the World Rankings has impressed with her play thus far in the US Open and claimed her place in the final in a three-set victory over Jennifer Brady.
For Osaka this tournament has not simply been about claiming her third Grand Slam title but about raising the awareness of social injustices and racial inequality. Osaka has been wearing facemasks with the names of victims of police brutality. The 22-year-old has been using her platform and the media to draw attention to social unrest in America.
The two-time Grand Slam champion who has previously struggled with the intense scrutiny following her victories at the US Open and the Australian Open has admitted to mentally stronger and more mature in her third Grand Slam final.
"I would say my mindset is much different this time... I feel like I've learned so much through the ups and downs, not even counting the finals, but just in the regular tournaments.
"Mentally I feel stronger, and I feel fitter now. I feel like I've definitely been getting more confident in myself. I feel like all these matches apply to each other, and once it gets to a third set, as long as I stay calm, the outcome could go in my favour." Said Osaka.
Azarenka won the first matchup between the two but since then, Osaka has controlled the head-to-head matchup winning their last matchup at last year’s French Open.
Osaka will look to cement herself as the upcoming star in women’s tennis, with Azarenka looking to continue her rise back to the top of the game.
