US Open: Play it like it´s 1991 – A final like Seles against Navratilova

There is a 16 year age difference between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, the two finalists of the US Open 2018.

Martina Navratilova has other things on her agenda these days than tennis – at least if you follow the activities of the legendary left-hander in the social media. Concern about current U.S. daily politics governs the timeline of the well-known 18-time major winner. Long-term rival and friend Chris Evert on ESPN, on the other hand, deserves the analysis of the women’s matches, as well as a commentator.

And Monica Seles? Keeps in the background as it has for years. Martina Navratilova took the time for the WTA website to give her assessment of the women’s final. Quintessence: Naomi Osaka must deliver the best match of her life.

The generational duel between Serena Williams and Osaka brings back memories of the 1991 US Open Final: at that time, 17-year-old Seles challenged Navratilova, who was twice as old. Or the other way around. Finally Seles entered the tournament as number two behind Steffi Graf, Navratilova was still in fifth place in the autumn of her career. In the end the younger one prevailed, for Seles it was at that time already the fourth success with a major. Navratilova had defeated Graf in the semi-final in three sets.

The age difference between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka is now similarly striking. The 23-time Grand Slam winner has 16 years of life and tennis experience ahead of her opponent, the biggest age difference in a final of the US Open since that affair between Seles and Navratilova 27 years ago.

“It should be a great finale,” Navratilova said on Thursday. “What a contrast in terms of personalities, cultures and age.”

Serena, who has improved from match to match since her only meeting with Osaka in Miami, is more likely to be the favourite. The US Open in particular have already seen favourites die in the finals – and new stars rise: in 2000, for example, when Marat Safin shot the nine year older Pete Sampras off the field.

Monica Sele’s star has, however, been forcibly prevented from climbing any further, 1993 in Hamburg. The Yugoslavian by birth made her comeback in a show fight against Martina Navratilova, Seles could no longer follow the dominance of the early years. After her return, the native Yugoslavian won the Australian Open once again and played her last match in Roland Garros in 2003.

Monica Seles joins Martina Navratilova as a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. There’s no question Serena Williams is safe there. Naomi Osaka could apply for membership in New York City on Saturday afternoon.