Congratulations to Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka for winning the Australian Open Men's and Women's singles titles respectively!
Novak Djokovic proved yet again that the Australian Open is his house by winning the championship for a record-extending 9th time. This is now also his 18th Grand Slam singles title, only two short of the men's record held jointly by Nadal and Federer. He is also guaranteed to break Roger's Federer's men's record of most total weeks at number 1. Novak also showed everyone just how mentally strong he is this tournament (in my opinion, his mental strength is second to none). He survived a 5-set scare from Taylor Fritz in the 3rd round and he had to overcome three other players in four sets. In fact, against Zverev, he was down a break in both the third and fourth sets but he still managed to eke out a win in both of those sets. I actually thought his opponent in the finals, Daniil Medvedev, was going to break through to win his first major since he had beaten Novak three times in their last four meetings. However, Novak's Grand Slam championship mettle proved too much and he overwhelmed Daniiel in straight sets in the final. The way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised if Novak also ends his career with the record for most major wins among the men. (It will be really interesting to see what happens in the next few years.)
Naomi Osaka won her second Australian Open title and her fourth major and I wouldn't be surprised if she regains the number 1 ranking and wins many more Grand Slam titles in the future. She moves well, her ground strokes have got some serious sting, and she's developed her serve into a solid weapon (I believe she hit more aces than any other woman in the tournament). But more importantly, she seems to have strengthened her championship mettle. In the fourth round, she faced two match points against last year's finalist, Garbine Muguruza, but she saved both and then found another gear, turning the match around and winning in three very hard-fought sets. After she won the US Open in 2018 and followed it up by winning the Australian Open in 2019, I thought she was poised to be the next great women's champion. However, she was unable to maintain that level of play. Now, after winning both the US Open and the Australian Open trophies again, I think she may have just found the right formula to keep winning more Grand Slam events.
Congratulations, Novak and Naomi!
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