In claiming her fourth Grand Slam title and her second at Melbourne Park,<\/a> Osaka catapults herself among welcome company in being just one of a few players in the modern era to have one a quartet of slams.<\/p>\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/josemorgado\/status\/1363067588096495616<\/a><\/p>\n It was a clinical, coming-of-age performance for Osaka, who claimed her first Slam from the position of being favourite \u2013 and the Japanese star lived up to expectations.<\/p>\n The win saw the 23-year-old maintain her perfect record in grand slam final appearances, and propels the narrative of a "changing of the guard" between her and Serena Williams.<\/p>\n Osaka in many ways has a game emblematic of Williams and holds a 3-2 winning record over the iconic American, including an infamous 2018 US Open final win.<\/p>\n She punctuated those figures with another win at Melbourne Park en route to this year's title.<\/p>\n "She's very much seen as the successor to Serena Williams who she beat once again a couple of nights ago out here on Rod Laver arena," Smith said on Nine after Osaka collected her latest piece of silverware.<\/p>\n "Serena at 23-years of age had won six Grand Slam titles, she had already completed the 'Serena Slam', so Naomi has a little catching up to do, but she's not too far off track.<\/p>\n "Surely this is what our sport needs, surely this is what women's tennis needs \u2013 a winner who is going to be taking home major after major to elevate women's tennis to the stratosphere that Williams has taken it to."<\/p>\n Molik added: "I think it's largely a changing of the guard.<\/p>\n "We saw an emotional Serena Williams the other day, and that's because I think she felt that."<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n