MELBOURNE, Australia - With a second major title and World No.1 on the line, Naomi Osaka stood tall to grab both mantles, capturing the Australian Open crown, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-4 over two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova.
Read more: Naomi Osaka ascends to WTA World No.1 ranking
Champion at the US Open last summer, the 21-year-old survived a mid-match hiccup to extend her Grand Slam match winning streak to 14 straight - and became the first maiden major champion to win two in a row since Jennifer Capriati in 2001 - after two hours and 27 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
“I mean, for me, I feel like it hasn't really sunk in,” Osaka told press afterward. “Maybe in the next tournament I play, if I see the No. 1 next to my name, I'll feel something. But for now, I'm more happy that I won this trophy.”
Osaka put on a near-flawless display in her thrilling semifinal victory over Karolina Pliskova, and was similarly steely to start against Kvitova, who was playing her first major final since 2014 with a chance to become the oldest woman to debut World No.1.
We didn't think it was possible, but @Naomi_Osaka_'s level has gone up 💪#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/lLkhIm4ojR
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2019
The big-hitting duo exchanged body blows from the baseline and defended their serves from a total of eight break points - two of which doubled as set points for Osaka at 6-5 - to force a first set tie-break.
The turning point came when Osaka blasted a backhand return winner to grab the first mini-break, riding that momentum through the sudden death to find herself in pole position to win a 60th straight match after taking the opening set.
Kvitova nonetheless began the second set on more confident footing, breaking first with points for a 3-0 lead, but Osaka quickly flipped the script, racing out to a 5-3 lead.
Returning for the title, the Japanese star engineered three championship points at 0-40. Kvitova saved all three - one with a seeringly signature forehand winner - and forced Osaka to serve for that second Slam trophy.
Amazing composure from @Naomi_Osaka_
After blowing 3 championship points and losing the second set, she breaks for a 2-1 lead in the third.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/WraManmpJr— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2019
Nerves appeared to take their toll for the youngster as the more experienced Kvitova stepped in to earn two straight service breaks - all while saving a break point at 5-5 - to win five straight games and level the match.
“Last year I lost in the fourth round,” Osaka recalled, speaking of losing the second set. “Now this year I was in the final, so I wanted to be happy about that and just basically have no regrets about today.
“I just thought to myself that this is my second time playing a final. I can't really act entitled. To be playing against one of the best players in the world, to lose a set, suddenly think that I'm so much better than her that that isn't a possibility…”
Osaka soon steadied early in the decider, nabbing the first break behind a big backhand winner and took another 0-40 lead at 4-2.
Again, Kvitova tapped into her best tennis at her moment of most jeopardy, saving all three break points, but a missed volley helped Osaka get within one game of victory.
Serving for the match a second time, Osaka made no mistakes, blasting another backand to book three more championship points, securing it on her second to become Asia's first World No.1.
“Like, I had dreams that I would win this tournament, you know?,” Osaka said. “Every time I have a dream, somehow I accomplish it, I still feel like it's a very strange moment. Like, I feel like I'm living right now, but it's not necessarily real, if that makes sense.”
In all, Osaka struck 33 winners to 33 unforced errors, a whopping 9 aces while maintaining a solid 76% winning percentage behind her first serve. Kvitova posted equally aggressive numbers with 33 winners and 39 unforced errors of her own, but came up just short in what was nonetheless a renaissance fortnight for the Czech veteran.
“It's hurting a lot today,” Kvitova acknowledged in her press conference. “I wanted to win and have the trophy. But I think I already won two years ago. So for me, it's amazing.
“I mean, I've been through many, many things, not really great ones. I didn't know if I going to hold the racquet again. I'm holding it, so that's good. Still few things which I can improve, and we'll do it.
“So it's not the end. Yeah, I be back for sure.”