Naomi Osaka beats Petra Kvitova and becomes Australian Open champion and new world No1

NAOMI OSAKA won the women’s Australian Open singles title and became the first Asian player, male or female, to become a tennis world No.1.

The Japanese star beat Petra Kvitova 7-6 5-7 6-4 in a thrilling final on the Rod Laver Arena and is now the first woman since American Serena Williams at the 2015 Wimbledon championships to win back-to-back majors.

It was also a story of redemption given the manner of how she won the US Open last September.

Williams’s unacceptable meltdown – in which she accused umpire Carlos Ramos of sexism and being a “liar and a thief” – had overshadowed what should have been a crowning glory for Osaka at Flushing Meadows.

Now, by reaching the summit of women’s tennis at the age of just 21, Osaka has underlined her status as the future of this sport.

She receives a cheque for £2.3m and is now halfway towards an incredible 'Grand Slam' achievement.

Osaka said: “Public speaking isn’t my strong side – so I hope I can get through this.

“Huge congratulations to Petra. I always wanted to play you. You have been through so much. You are amazing.

“Behind every tennis player is a team and I want to thank you. I wouldn’t have made it through this week without you.”

It had promised to be a cracking clash with two players operating at the top of their game over the past two weeks in Melbourne, and both with poignant back-stories, too.

For the thousands watching courtside, it certainly lived up to its heavyweight billing with some high-quality tennis – most notably a sensational 18-shot rally in the 11th game.

Osaka showed early signs of nerves as she started the match with a double fault but quickly made amends for that embarrassment, winning her first service game comfortably and then hitting two aces in the next one.

Kvitova may have been the more experienced player but she was kicking herself in frustration – because while she was able to challenge the Osaka’s serve in the first set, she was unable to capitalise on any advantage.

had FIVE break points in the first set – in the fifth and seventh games combined – but wasted all of them.

And that eventually came back to haunt her as Osaka cleaned up in the first-set tie-break.

Not only was the youngster able to read Kvitova’s serve but she confidently flashing several winners past her.

Kvitova broke in the early stages of the second set and then raced into a 2-0 lead.

Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion, has showed enough over the past two weeks that she will challenge for majors again

Yet Osaka hit back with faultless returning and outstanding play to move 4-2 ahead.

It all looked like Osaka would sweep to victory, especially when she had three championship points on the Kvitova serve.

But it is to the credit of Kvitova that she refused to lie down quietly - and within the space of 14 minutes, she broke back and won the second set 7-5 with Osaka screaming and shouting in anger.

Osaka had to regroup and quickly otherwise the match was going to slip away from her - but thanks to a break in the third game of the third set, she held her nerve to become the first Japanese champion in this slam.

For Kvitova, just playing in this final was a miracle in itself.

In December 2016, she needed emergency surgery after having fingers sliced on her left hand in a knife attack in her appartment.

Kvitova was “fortunate to be alive” and doctors never expected her to play at the top level again.

The fact she even made this showpiece occasion was credit to her character and determination.