First set, Osaka 3-2 Brady: BACK ON SERVE! A couple of backhand errors from Osaka gives Brady a brief window but the third seed recovers in some style. The first serves, when they land, are working like a treat for Osaka. But she misses a backhand at game point and Brady fights back to deuce. And now a double fault from Osaka gives Brady a break point! She nets a backhand after a longish rally, and Brady breaks back! What did we say about butterflies again? It’s a Grand Slam final after all.

First set, Osaka *3-1 Brady: Problems for Brady! A double fault and a backhand error and she is down 0-40 in no time. And double faults again to lose serve! Oh dear, plenty of nerves clearly. Of all the ways to lose serve, that’s got to sting.

First set, Osaka 2-1 Brady: So just one point dropped in the opening two service games. No butterflies for her, she controls the butterflies after all, if you know what we mean.

First set, Osaka 1-1 Brady: Nervy start, Brady! She too looked like she would hold to love by opening up a 40-0 lead but Osaka has other sides. Three errors from Brady and we have our first deuce game of the night. Osaska is returning strongly and forces a second deuce, but Brady follows that up with a strong serve. And a backhand error from Osaka gives the American a hold of serve.

First set, Osaka 1-0 Brady: Wow, that’s as lethal an opening serving game as Osaka could have dreamt of. No fuss, holds it to love and moves on.

First set, 0-0: Love-all, here we go! Osaka elected to serve after winning the toss.

A fact-box ahead of the final

Naomi Osaka Jennifer Brady
Age 23 25
World ranking 3 24
Career prize money $17,770,234 $2,014,115
Career titles 6 1
Major titles 3 0
Best at Aus Open Champion (2019) Final (this year)  
Coach Wim Fissette Michael Geserer
Sets dropped at the event 1 2

As Naomi Osaka heads into her second Australian Open final, here’s a recap of how she won her first: a gritty three-set win over Naomi Osaka

The last time they played was another massive Grand Slam match – the US Open semi-finals – and it went down as one of the best in the truncated 2020 season. The US Open was a turning point for both players as Brady reached her first Major semi-final while Osaka began an unbeaten streak that has carried on and set forth her quiet determination she’s carrying into this final.

What will this match hold?

Road to the final

Naomi Osaka’s path to the final:

1st rd: bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 6-1, 6-2

2nd rd: bt Caroline Garcia (FRA) 6-2, 6-3

3rd rd: bt Ons Jabeur (TUN x27) 6-3, 6-2

4th rd: bt Garbine Muguruza (ESP x14) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5

Quarter-final: bt Hsieh Su-wei (TPE) 6-2, 6-2

Semi-final: bt Serena Williams (USA x10) 6-3, 6-4

Jennifer Brady’s path to the final:

1st rd: bt Aliona Bolsova (ESP) 6-1, 6-3

2nd rd: bt Madison Brengle (USA) 6-1, 6-2

3rd rd: bt Kaja Juvan (SLO) 6-1, 6-3

4th rd: bt Donna Vekic (CRO x28) 6-1, 7-5

Quarter-final: bt Jessica Pegula (USA) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1

Semi-final: bt Karolina Muchova (CZE x25) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

Head-to-head

Osaka leads Brady 2-1, with their last match being a three-set epic in the US Open semi-finals (see video)

2020 US Open (semi-final): Osaka bt Brady 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 6-3

2018 Charleston (R64): Osaka bt Brady 6-4, 6-4

2014 New Braunfels (R32): Brady bt Osaka 6-4, 6-4

Hello and welcome to the live blog for the women’s singles final at the Australian Open.

Naomi Osaka takes her perfect record in Grand Slam deciders into the final where she will attempt to make it four out of four in finals against America’s Jennifer Brady, who is playing her first final. Will we see another first-time Major champion in women’s tennis or will Osaka become the first player since Maria Sharapova in 2012 to win a fourth singles Grand Slam?