Osaka Becomes 1st Japanese to Win Grand Slam Singles Title

September 9, 2018

New York- Naomi Osaka became the first Japanese to win a Grand Slam singles title by defeating Serena Williams in the U.S. Open women's final in New York on Saturday.

The 20th-seeded Osaka won 6-2, 6-4 against the former world champion from the United States, gaining the title in her 11th Grand Slam appearance.

Williams, Osaka's childhood idol, did not make it to a 24th Grand Slam victory, which would have matched an all-time high among women's singles players.

Osaka, 20, started playing tennis at 3 and became a professional player in 2013. She stepped into the spotlight when she beat 2011 U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur of Australia in July 2014.

Osaka made a Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open in 2016.

She is of Haitian-Japanese descent. Her elder sister, Mari, is also a professional tennis player. Jiji Press