Victoria Azarenka reached her first Grand Slam final in seven years after defeating Serena Williams for the first time at a grand slam.
Since her last final which was the 2013 US Open, Azarenka has become a mother and faced a custody battle. Both of which kept her out of tennis for an extended period.
Azarenka had looked impressive during her run to the final and looked in control after taking the first set 6-1.
Osaka the 2018 champion was not going to give in. She slowly worked her way back into the match and fought off a game point in the third game on Azareka’s serve. That was the key moment when momentum shifted.
Instead of Azarenka holding a 6-1, 3-0 lead the match tightened and Osako had broken back. She held to consolidate the break.
The Belarusian held for 3-2 before Osaka ran off the next four games to take the set, including an epic game to win the set.
Osaka broke in the fourth game of the deciding set to lead 3-1 and then fought off three break back points before holding for a 4-1 lead.
Azarenka again faced a long drawn out game before this time holding. In the next game Osaka was broken and Azarenka looked to be coming back into the set after breaking for 3-4 on serve.
Osaka would break again before serving out the match to complete a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory in 1 hour 53 minutes.
Azarenka played almost perfect tennis in the first set, serving at 94% and winning 75% of first serve points. The winner were 7-5 to Azarenka while unforced errors were 13-3 to Osaka.
In the third set Azarenka served at 62% and won 62% of first serve points.
It was not to be for Azarenka but it had been a great return to form.
Osaka claimed her third Grand Slam singles title and her second US Open title.
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