Victoria Azarenka demonstrated in recent weeks in New York that she is completely back after a difficult period on a personal level. The Belarusian was in the final of the US Open for the 3rd time and made a flying start against Naomi Osaka.
The Japanese, who was on the track with a tightly wrapped upper leg, was not involved in the 1st set. Her service failed her and she piled up misses, although that was also due to Azarenka, who played great tennis with her precise sledgehammer strokes. After barely 27 minutes, the 1st set was decided: 6-1 for Azarenka.
In set 2, Azarenka initially seemed to continue on her path. She went through the service of Osaka, which suddenly managed to boost her level after a quick rebreak. The service of the Japanese started to turn, she made fewer mistakes and many more winners. Azarenka had doubts and had to give up the second set.
Osaka also ruled in the decisive 3rd set, although Azarenka did not give up just like that. She canceled a break with fight tennis, but then had to hand in her own service again. That turned out to be the break too much for the Belarusian. In the 9th game, Osaka cashed in her 2nd game point.
For the Japanese, it is her 2nd overall victory at the US Open after 2018 and her 3rd grand slam title in total. In 2019 she also won the Australian Open. Victoria Azarenka gets stuck on 2 grand slam titles. She won the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013.
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