Summary

  • Naomi Osaka 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-4 Petra Kvitova

  • Kvitova saves three championship points to force third set

  • Osaka becomes world number one after winning back-to-back Grand Slam titles

Live Reporting

Amy Lofthouse

  1. *Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 5-5 Osaka

    Kvitova backpedals, and flashes her forehand into the net.

    30-30.

  2. *Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 5-5 Osaka

    Naomi Osaka thinks she's made an unbelievable passing shot - but it's just, just long over the baseline!

    Oh, that's into the net from Osaka, but she's on the board as an on-the-run Kvitova goes long.

    30-15.

  3. *Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 5-5 Osaka

    Gigi Salmon
    Radio 5 live sports extra tennis commentator at Melbourne Park

    There is no emotion from Petra Kvitova. She knows the job is not done. You are kidding me! This should be over. But it's not over. Look how quickly things can change in tennis!

  4. Kvitova breaks as Osaka serves for match

    *Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 5-5 Osaka

    OH!

    Long goes Naomi Osaka's forehand!

    Petra Kvitova breaks back.

    OsakaGetty Images

  5. Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 4-5 Osaka*

    My WORD.

    Naomi Osaka double faults! She hits her shoe in annoyance.

    Two break points for Kvitova.

  6. Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 4-5 Osaka*

    Shot!

    Kvitova gets pushed wide with the serve, and she's nowhere near Osaka's flat winner.

    15-30.

  7. Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 4-5 Osaka*

    Aaaand Petra Kvitova gets the first point on the Naomi Osaka serve with a cross-court winner.

    And that's a long backhand from Osaka! 0-30.

  8. Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 4-5 Osaka*

    Kim Clijsters
    Four-time Grand Slam champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    That can have an impact on Naomi Osaka. She is a confident server though and has held pretty easily throughout the match. This is a completely different service game now though. Petra Kvitova has done nothing wrong but it's up to Naomi to take it and play aggressive tennis. She has done that so far.

  9. Osaka serving for match

    Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 4-5 Osaka*

    Here we go then.

    Naomi Osaka will serve for the Australian Open title.

  10. Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 4-5 Osaka*

    Does this have to end?

  11. Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 4-5 Osaka*

    Gigi Salmon
    Radio 5 live sports extra tennis commentator at Melbourne Park

    What a game from Petra Kvitova! It is still Osaka who will be serving for the title.

    KvitovaPA

  12. Kvitova holds

    Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 4-5 Osaka*

    Down the T goes Petra Kvitova, and Naomi Osaka nets!

    The crowd look STRESSED.

    Advantage, Kvitova - sealed with a serve out wide that Osaka can't return.

    Such grit from Kvitova. Osaka will have to try and serve this one out.

  13. Kvitova saves three championship points

    *Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 3-5 Osaka

    Out wide goes the Kvitova serve - and Osaka goes long!

    Deuce!

  14. *Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 3-5 Osaka

    Osaka looks up at her box as she whips a forehand over the baseline.

    30-40...

  15. *Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 3-5 Osaka

    Cross-court goes the Petra Kvitova forehand winner!

    15-40.

  16. *Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 3-5 Osaka

    Down the line aims Kvitova - and misses!

    Three Championship points to Naomi Osaka.

    Naomi OsakaGetty Images

  17. *Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 3-5 Osaka

    Stonking return of serve from Osaka, and Kvitova can only float the ball way out of bounds.

    0-30.

  18. *Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 3-5 Osaka

    Osaka raises her hands in apology as a backhand takes a bobble off the net and drops in front of Kvitova.

    She's crouching so low to use Kvitova's pace against her. It's astonishingly good.

    0-15.

  19. Kvitova serving to stay in match

    *Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 3-5 Osaka

    Can Petra Kvitova ask the question of Naomi Osaka?

  20. *Kvitova 6-7 (2-7) 3-5 Osaka

    Gigi Salmon
    Radio 5 live sports extra tennis commentator at Melbourne Park

    What a celebration! She is one game away from becoming the new Australian Open champion and world number one.

    Osaka fansGetty Images