At a set and two games down, Naomi Osaka looked lost against a dazzling Victoria Azarenka who threatened to run away with the US Open women’s singles title.Some calibrations and momentum shifts later, the 22-year-old reversed the script and won 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 — becoming the fourth woman in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam final after losing the opening set 6-1 or 6-0.
Osaka has also been more efficient in deciding sets.While her overall third set win-loss record is 74-36, Osaka is 29-4 since winning her the 2018 US Open.
In the same period, Azarenka’s record in deciders is 13-13, compared to 107-76 overall.Much like after the first set, the match seemed to be a foregone conclusion after the second; only this time it looked to be going Osaka’s way.
Dominic Thiem became Austria’s second Grand Slam singles champion as he defeated Alexander Zverev 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(6) in the US Open final on Sunday.
After losing three finals on the trot, the 27-year-old became the youngest Grand Slam champion and first maiden Grand Slam champion since Marin Cilic in 2014.
He also became the first player to win the US Open title from two sets down since Pancho Gonzales in 1949.
