Australian Open 2019: Little separates Kvitova and Osaka in final

Both have different strengths but what is common is their hunger to win another Slam

There is a cold-bloodedness behind the considerable charm of the two finalists. Petra Kvitova, 28, has won her last eight tournament finals while Naomi Osaka, 21, has 59 straight wins after winning the first set.
There is a cold-bloodedness behind the considerable charm of the two finalists. Petra Kvitova, 28, has won her last eight tournament finals while Naomi Osaka, 21, has 59 straight wins after winning the first set.PHOTOS: EPA-EFE
Rohit Brijnath Assistant Sports Editor In Melbourne
  • Published
    Jan 26, 2019, 5:00 am SGT
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Only the final acts of an Open are to be written and the corridors are quieter. The crowds have thinned and the outside courts are mostly soundless playgrounds. Umpires' chairs sit mournfully empty and a faint music trails through the buildings. The litter has been swept up and with it the shards of unfulfilled ambitions. Only one person can win, 126 women have left and two remain.

Naomi Osaka and Petra Kvitova.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 26, 2019, with the headline 'Little separates Kvitova and Osaka in final'. Subscribe
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