US Open 2020 Women's Final Live Score: Naomi Osaka will take on Victoria Azarenka on Saturday. (Source: Reuters)US Open 2020 Women’s Final, Naomi Osaka vs Victoria Azarenka Tennis Live Score Updates: Naomi Osaka and Victoria Azarenka will lock their horns in the US Open final on Saturday with both aiming for their third Grand Slam win.
After a shaky start against Misaki Doi, Japan’s Osaka got into the groove and reached the finals after beating local hope Jennifer Brady in the semi-final. On the other hand, Belarus’ Azarenka shocked 23-time Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams, in the last four to book the finals berth.
While Osaka will look to repeat history two years after her win at the Flushing Meadows, Azarenka will hope to end her seven-year wait and make the mothers around the world proud.
Osaka begins her serve with a lot of power, making it difficult for Azarenka to return properly. But the veteran makes up ground to make it 15-15. Osaka continues with her momentum and gets the next point with effective movement across the court. An ace and a brilliant backhand winner -- Osaka is back! She holds her serve and she's now just one game away from levelling things.
Azarenka begins her serve with a double fault and it goes downhill for her from there. She continues with two unforced errors and makes it 0-40. Although, she gets back one point but her backhand was too powerful in her next serve. Osaka breaks!
Osaka finds her groove back again as she holds to love. Brilliant stuff from the Japanese.
Azarenka begins with an ace. Osaka makes it easier with an overhit. Despite ekeing out a point in the middle, Azarenka makes it easy business for her and races to hold her serve. She is now just three games away from the championship.
Osaka serves again and she starts well to turn things around. But Azarenka doesn't let up at all as she tries to put more pressure on the Japanese. 15-15-. 30-30. But Osaka edges it with two brilliant serves and brings about some parity in the second set.
Azarenka stumbled a bit at the start as Osaka stole a point from her, but she soon makes it 30-15 with a brilliant ace and then a drop shot. She gives away a point but a terrific backhand makes it 40-30. Osaka some spirit within herself and her forehand makes it deuce. Osaka does well to maintain the baseline rally and makes Azarenka overhit a return. A point later, she breaks!
Osaka serves for the first time in the second set and she looks all over the place. The score's at 15-15 but she gives away two points by giving away two unforced errors. 15-40. Osaka follows it up with an ace but Azarenka soon breaks her in her first serve.
Azarenka starts the second set with a serve. First Osaka fails to cross the net, then Azarenka returns the favour. 15-15. She gains a fortunate point as the ball drops in Osaka's side of the court after hitting the net, but it becomes 30-30 after she overhits a return off her next serve. One point, two point, boom. What a forehand to seal the deal. Azarenka's showing some brilliant nerves!
Osaka serve to stay in the first set, but loses the first point to her opponent. She quickly makes up the ground as she races to 30-15, but another lapse of concentration from her side makes it 30-30. Azarenka fights her way to deuce and she's just two points away from the first set! Advantage, and then a brilliant backhand from the Belarusian! 26 minutes and a first set in the final!
Azarenka backs up the break comfortably with two quick points -- the second after a lengthy baseline rally which again had Osaka overhitting the ball. The Japanese fights back to 30-15, but the veteran soon makes it 40-15. Osaka shows immense spirit by making it deuce after some swift movement from the baseline to the net. But Azarenka doesn't waste time after that. She holds.
Osaka with the serve now, but she isn't in control at all. After winning the first point of the match, Osaka lost the lead after Azarenka made her play her game with a series of forehands and a delicate drop shot. Osaka on the backfoot and she's unable to assert her dominance. Another Azarenka point and then two errors by Osaka -- Azarenka gets her second break of the set!
Azarenka wins the first point of her serve but she commits her first unforced error of the match to make it 15-15. Osaka looked focussed in breaking her opponent, but she committed her eighth error of the night to let the pressure slip. Azarenka cruises through the rest of the game, sealing it with a brilliant forehand down the line. The 31-year-old fistbumps, well deserved!
Osaka starts well with a quick 15-0. Then followed a massive rally between her and Azarenka, but Osaka gave in and committed a mistake as her weak backhand failed to make it over the net. 15-15. Osaka finds her rhythm in the game again and reasserts control with her strong forehand display. Osaka makes it 1-2 and it feels like she has finally settled her nerves.
Azarenka begins her serve excellently by bagging the first point with a forehand return right to the far-left of Osaka. She cruises through to two more points, and then seals the deal owing to an Osaka error. Four points at a stretch.
Osaka starts the final with the first serve and wins the first point. Azarenka equals quickly and takes the lead helped by the Japanese's unforced error. 15-30. Osaka fumbles up with her returns furthermore and gives the Belarusian a two point lead. She tried her best by making it 30-40 but a Azarenka eased into the game point and broke the seeded finalist in the first game itself.
Both the players have emerged from the tunnel and are now warming up at the Arthur Ashe court.
Victoria Azarenka, who is nine years older than Naomi Osaka, won her two Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013 - the same years she finished runner-up at the US Open. Meanwhile, the Japanese has also won the same number of major titles - the first at Flushing Meadows in 2018 and a second consecutive Grand Slam in Melbourne the following year.