Naomi Osaka battled back from a set down against Victoria Azarenka to lift her second US Open title in three years with a 1-6 6-3 6-3 victory.
The Japanese added her second title in New York with a battling performance to her Australian Open crown for her third Grand Slam in three years.
The Belarusian mother of her three-year-old son, Leo, was making an improbable comeback at the age 31 against the 22-year-old Japanese sporting icon and highest-earning female athlete in the world.
Azarenka, playing in her first Grand Slam final in seven years, came flying out of the traps to take a 2-0 before the fourth seed found some equilibrium to settle her nerves for an important hold of serve.
Azarenka maintained her momentum through the first two games of the second set but Osaka broke back for 2-1 and that proved to be a crucial moment.
For only the fourth time in the last 25 US Open women’s finals we were heading into a final set. Osaka was involved in the controversial final against Serena Williams two years ago, while Azarenka was involved in three-setters, falling to Williams in 2012 and 2013.
Osaka had not lost in a final set at Flushing Meadows for three years and after breaking for 3-1 she saved three break point chances to dig out a massive hold. The pair shared breaks before Osaka stayed mentally strong to move 5-3 up and she stayed cool to serve out the match.
