There is no doubt that Naomi Osaka will be the overwhelming favourite heading into the Australian Open final when she plays Jennifer Brady.
The world No.3 is currently on a 20-match winning streak since losing a Fed Cup tie 12 months ago. A run of wins which has only been achieved by Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka on the women’s Tour since 2010. The recent dominance by the Japanese player has even led to Justine Henin branding her the ‘new boss’ of women’s tennis.
Although victory in Melbourne Park won’t be as straightforward against Brady who is through to her first major final at the age of 25. The two met in the semifinals of the US Open less than six months ago with Osaka battling to a 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-3, win. Osaka also won their match played at the 2018 Charleston Open but did lose to the American back in 2014 at an ITF event.
At stake for Osaka is 1000 ranking points and A$2,750,000 for the winner. Although there is also a series of other milestones she will achieve if she gets the better of Brady on Saturday :-
- Osaka is bidding to become the 12th woman in the Open Era to win multiple Australian Open titles and the first from Asia.
- A win would make her the first female player since Monica Seles in the early 1990s to have won the first four Grand Slam finals they have played.
- She could become the fourth active player to win four major titles after Serena Williams (23), Venus Williams (7) and Kim Clijsters (4). In the Open Era only 15 women have reached this milestone.
- Osaka could become the seventh player in the Open Era on the WTA Tour to have won the title after saving a match point earlier in the tournament. During the fourth round she saved two match points against Garbine Muguruza. Within this period the only woman to have done this twice was Williams in 2003 and 2005.
- Victory would move her to No.2 in the world which would be her highest ranking position since the week commencing August 26th 2019 when she was in first place.
- The last time a woman won the Australian Open when having the same seeding as Osaka (number three) was Victoria Azarenka in 2012.
The women’s final will start at 08:30 GMT on Saturday 19th February.
