One Australian Open finalist spoke about how intimidating it was to serve against Serena Williams and also volunteered that she was guilty of mindless eating during her mandatory 14-day quarantine. That would be Naomi Osaka, who is 3 for 3 in Grand Slam finals.
The other acknowledged envisioning her post-match celebration before her semi-final was won, causing her to lose focus, and also offered that she didn’t binge-watch any shows on her 14-day lockdown, because she knew that would lead to lazing around in bed all day.
That would be Jennifer Brady, a former UCLA standout who became the first woman to come through the college ranks to advance to a Grand Slam final since Kathy Jordan at this tournament in 1983.
The women’s singles final at the Australian Open will feature the most relatable high-octane servers with hammering groundstrokes that you would ever want to meet (just not on the court).
Osaka, 23, and Brady, 25, have displayed ruthless power in their matches and disarming vulnerability in their news conferences.
Osaka staved off two match points in a fourth-round three-setter against Garbiñe Muguruza and didn’t panic when she faced a break point while trailing Serena 0-2 in the first set of their semi-final. She has improved her mental toughness, she said, by talking to her coach, Wim Fissette.
Brady squandered four match points on Thursday before dispatching Karolina Muchova in three sets. “I was just so nervous,” she said. “I couldn’t feel my legs.”
Belgium’s Elise Mertens and (right) Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka leap in joy — their signature celebratory move — with their Australian Open women’s doubles trophy in Melbourne on Friday. The duo beat the Czech pair of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 6-3 to win their second Grand Slam trophy together. Seeded second at Melbourne Park, the pair won their maiden major at the 2019 US Open and the victory at the Rod Laver Arena was their fifth title overall. However, they will not be teaming up at Grand Slam events for the rest of 2021 as Sabalenka wants to focus on singles. “I’m just trying to put my whole focus on singles,” Sabalenka — World No.7 in singles — told reporters, adding that the pair will play WTA events in Dubai and Miami next. “It still takes a lot of energy. I just want to save it for singles.” In Friday’s final, the pair wasted three championship points before Sabalenka set up a fourth with an ace and they wrapped up the match when Siniakova sent a backhand wide. Twitter/@AustralianOpen
Saturday’s final will be only their second professional meeting, but they have known each other since they were youngsters competing in USTA-sanctioned tournaments in Florida, where they both grew up.
By managing the best they can under stressful circumstances, they have managed to be the last two women standing. Who these days can’t relate to that?