Naomi Osaka creates tennis history joins Federer & Seles with first 4 Grand Slam wins record.
Naomi Osaka’s Australian Open success recently lengthened her undefeated record in Grand Slam finals to 4-0. That has perched the 23-year-old in privileged company, as she joined Monica Seles and Roger Federer to become the only players in the Open Era to win their first 4 Grand Slam finals.
Understandably, Naomi Osaka was thrilled to learn about the unique milestone.
“My response is that that’s extremely amazing company,” Naomi Osaka reacted when she was informed about the record. “I wish that I can have one grain of how Monica Seles and Roger Federer’s careers have unfolded. You can only hope and you can just keep going down your own route. But it’s certainly something crazy to get to know.”
While both Monica Seles and Roger Federer started by triumphing into their first four Grand Slam finals, neither player was able to retain their 100% record on the biggest stage. Federer went on to prolong his winning run to 7 Grand Slam finals, before dropping a match to Rafael Nadal in the 2006 French Open final.
Seles, on the other hand, secured the first 6 Grand Slam finals she contested, before going down to Steffi Graf in the 1992 Wimbledon women’s singles final. She halted her career with a 9-4 record in Major finals while Federer, who is scheduled to return to the men’s professional tennis next month, has a 20-11 record in Slam finals at this point.
Naomi Osaka also among elite group of ladies in tennis history to have not once lost a Grand Slam final.
While neither Roger Federer nor Monica Seles was able to sustain their 100% record in Grand Slam finals, there have been some players preceding the Open era who went unbeaten in Grand Slam finals all through their respective careers.
Five women, who played earlier than 1968, logged perfect records in Slam finals (considering minimum 5 finals reached). Maureen Connolly, affectionately known as “Little Mo”, leads this stat with a flawless 9-0 record in Grand Slam finals.
Connolly won 9 Majors in the 1950s, including all 4 in 1953. The American’s career culminated suddenly at the young age of 19 when she damaged her leg in a horseback riding mishap.
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