Osaka has arrived as a ‘leader’ to take over from Serena: 6-Time Grand Slam Champion
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Naomi Osaka defeated Jennifer Brady on Sunday to lift her 4th grand slam title. With her win in Melbourne, she has now won a major each year for the last 4 years.
The Japanese has well and truly established herself as one of the best players in the world on tour currently. The 23-year-old has proven many times over that she is a mental giant, so it wasn’t a surprise to see her stay super-focused for the Australian Open.
But what Naomi Osaka’s Australian Open campaign has also reinforced is that her base level of play is higher than that of anyone else on tour. She has truly established herself as the ‘leader’ of the women’s tennis currently.
Boris Becker says that Osaka is becoming more than just a tennis player
6-time grand slam champion, Boris Becker acknowledged Naomi Osaka’s Australian Open triumph.
“Naomi Osaka is becoming more than just a tennis player, and that is great for women’s tennis.”, Becker said.
“Their side of the game has been crying out for a leader to take over from Serena Williams, and she has arrived. Not just a player who looks better than the pack right now, but as a confident young woman prepared to speak out on wider issues – she is looking like a genuine superstar.”, he said.
Becker also told that Osaka has to win on grass and clay too.
“In terms of her tennis success it has been largely limited to hard courts, but I am sure she will win Wimbledon one day – she is much more likely to triumph there than at the French Open with the way she plays.”, he added.
“She just has to learn how to play on grass, because she has the natural weapons to excel on it. What I also like about her is that she seems able to smell the big moment and go in for the kill, like Djokovic.“
“I was also surprised by Jennifer Brady, who looks a definite top five player to me. But Osaka is currently in her own bracket, and as Serena fades it is very timely that there is someone to step into her shoes.“, he concluded.
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Lakshya Chopra
(2595 Articles Published)