Japanese sensation Naomi Osaka broke into tears after winning her first Australian Open title by defeating Petra Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 7-5 4-6 in Saturday’s final.
Osaka overcame the Czech star in a seesaw final to win back-to-back Grand Slams and become the new world number one.
However, victory seemed to be inevitable for Osaka before Kvitova broke back for 5-5 on her way to winning 12 points in a row to lead for the first time since the start of the second set.
She regained focus to take a decisive advantage in the decider, going on to replicate American Jennifer Capriati’s achievement of winning her first two Grand Slams back to back.
The fourth seed broke for 2-1 in the decider, then served out to clinch victory in Melbourne.
Eighth seed Kvitova, 28, was bidding for her first major title since being stabbed in a knife attack.
Naomi Osaka is now the youngest player to hold the top spot since Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, then aged 20, took the ranking in 2010.
