Melbourne: 2021 Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady on Saturday said that newly-crowned champion Naomi Osaka is "like the rest of us" whereas 23-time Grand Slam women's singles champion Serena Williams is "God."
Comparing Naomi Osaka with Serena Williams, Brady said, "I do not think there is something that is intangible about her (Naomi Osaka). I think she is human, like the rest of us in this room. She just brings out her best in the big moments and, yeah, she is obviously... like you said, she has won four Grand Slam titles (Osaka has won two Australian Open and two U.S. Open titles). She knows what she is doing out there. She is confident in herself, her game, her team. But I do not think she is God. I think maybe Serena (Williams) is."
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Osaka defeated Brady - who was appearing in her first-ever Slam final - in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday to win the women's singles title at Melbourne Park for her second Australian Open crown, and fourth Grand Slam triumph overall.
Brady said, a year ago, the possibility of the American winning her maiden Grand Slam felt "like going to Mars" but is now "totally achievable."
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Brady also joked that, maybe if she had not been in quarantine due to COVID-19 protocols, she may have won the Australian Open title and said she felt "a little bit sad" at the prospect of leaving the country now that the tournament has finished.
