US Open 2020: Osaka Cruises Past Azarenka; Theim Claws Back To Stun Zverev.

 Naomi Osaka won her third grand slam in 3 years on Saturday. Azarenka was in great form on the first set, winning 6-1, but could not manage to keep up the form in the next two. She was leading 2-0 after winning a break point in the second set, but Osaka won the set 6-3 by converting a couple of break points, forcing Azarenka to play the decider. Osaka easily sailed past to 4-1 in the third and final set, but failed to convert 4 break points in the next game. Azarenka now gained control, reaching 4-3, trailing by a set to Osaka. Azarenka's efforts went in vain as Osaka won the next two games to be crowned champion. 

Total Score: Naomi Osaka beat Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the match between Alexander Zverev and Dominic Theim proved to be a thriller. This time, both of the finalists had never won a grand slam as, Djocovic, top seed of the tournament, got ejected from The US Open for hitting a linesperson on the throat. Zverev easily won the first two sets 6-2 6-4, and Theim's chances of winning were very very low. Nobody, at this stage, would have expected Theim to win. But he did! Thanks to some double faults from Zverev and aces from Thiem, he won the next set 6-4. Zverev had some championship points in the third set but failed to convert them! The next set was somewhat the same. Theim won 6-3. 

The last set was very interesting.In the fifth set, Zverev had championship points again, but failed to convert them, again! This set went into a tiebreaker as both the players had 6 sets each in the final set. The tiebreaker was to decide who will win their first grand slam title. Zverev was leading 2 - 0 in the tiebreaker, but double faults let him down as Thiem won 8 - 6. It was a very close match in which Zverev won 159 points and Thiem won 163! Although Zverev had 15 aces compared to Theim's 8, Zverev also had 15 double faults compared to Theim's 8. After the match, Thiem said "I wish we  could have two winners today. I think we both deserved it." 

I have made a table here that shows the match in numbers:

Total Score: Dominic Thiem beat Alexander Zverev 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(8-6)

What was weird in this edition of The US Open was the prize-giving ceremony. Normally, some official hands over the trophy to the champion and then they have a photo together. This time, as everyone has to maintain social distancing, the official came, placed the trophy on top of a table, then the Champion came and took the trophy themselves, and had a photo of only the Champion!