Naomi Osaka, the new No. 1 in women’s tennis

This time last year, Naomi Osaka was ranked only 53rd in the world. Now, having just won the Australian Open after having previously lifted the U.S. Open trophy (beating Serena Williams in the final), Osaka is No. 1.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Open final will be remembered for Williams’ stunning outburst when she branded the umpire a liar and a thief. It somewhat took the limelight away from Osaka, but now—in retrospect—the incident must have helped to build the Japanese star’s character; a character that she displayed with resolve and pride in Melbourne.

Osaka’s journey over the past 12 months can only be described as phenomenal. At the end of 2017, she was ranked 68th. Her highest ranking during the course of that year was No. 44. She won no more than two matches in any of the main completions she entered.

But the signs were there that she could be a star in the making. During 2017 she made it through to the third rounds of both Wimbledon and the U.S Open. In New York, she knocked out No. 6 seed and defending champion Angelique Kerber. This marked the first time that she had beaten a top-10 opponent. During the same year at Wimbledon, Osaka beat Czech veteran Barbora Strýcová, who earlier in 2017 had been ranked 16th in the world and was seeded No. 23 at the All-England Club. Osaka was then ousted in the next round by 11^th-seeded Venus Williams.

But 2018 was to be the start of her meteoric rise up the ranks, beginning with the hiring of a new coach Sascha Bajin. Not long afterwards, Osaka chalked up her best result to date when she got through to the fourth round of the Australian Open. She was on her way. Osaka went on to the win the Indian Wells title. During the whole of the competition she dropped only one set, and as she progressed knocked out two players ranked in the top five—Simona Halep and Karolína Plíšková. This tournament win saw the young Japanese climb through the world rankings to 22nd.

In September of 2018, young Osaka won the U.S. Open when she defeated Williams—her childhood idol. The match was, of course, marred by Serena’s infamous outburst mentioned earlier. For the 21-year-old, it was a bittersweet victory; but it was one that saw her become the first Japanese player (male or female) to win a Grand Slam title.

Osaka had arrived, and by the end of the year she was the WTA tour leader in terms of prize money—having won nearly $6.4 million.

Who knows what the tennis circuit has in store for her this year; maybe a Roland Garros or Wimbledon title, or both? One thing you can be sure of, however, is that the betting odds on the young Japanese will now be significantly lower at any tournament in which she plays. Osaka’s second Grand Slam title (the Australian Open), in which she beat Petra Kvitová, saw her achieve another first. She is now first-ever Asian player to be ranked No. 1 in the world.