Naomi Osaka fired an unreturnable serve, pulled her visor down over her eyes and strolled to the net to hug her childhood idol.
For the first time on a drama-filled Saturday evening in New York, the 20-year-old looked overwhelmed.
Playing in her first major final against the legendary Serena Williams, an opponent and a stage she said she had dreamed about for years, Osaka looked the part of a seasoned veteran in taking apart the American 6-2, 6-4, to win the U.S. Open and become the first Japanese to win a grand slam singles title.