Naomi Osaka comes from behind to win US Open - in pictures

The Japanese fourth seed overcame Victoria Azarenka inside a near-empty Arthur Ashe Stadium

Naomi Osaka celebrates with the US Open trophy after defeating Victoria Azarenka in the final. EPA

Naomi Osaka celebrates with the US Open trophy after defeating Victoria Azarenka in the final. Reuters

Naomi Osaka and Victoria Azarenka meet at the net after their US Open final match. EPA

Victoria Azarenka hits a backhand to Naomi Osaka during the US Open final. Reuters

Victoria Azarenka reacts in the third set during the US Open final. AFP

Victoria Azarenka returns a shot to Naomi Osaka during the US Open final. PA

A general view of Arthur Ashe stadium during the US Open final between Naomi Osaka and Victoria Azarenka. AFP

Naomi Osaka hits a return to Victoria Azarenka during the US Open final. EPA

Naomi Osaka hits a return to Victoria Azarenka during the US Open final. EPA

Naomi Osaka hits a backhand to Victoria Azarenka during the US Open final. EPA

Naomi Osaka celebrates during the third set of the US Open final against Victoria Azarenka. Reuters

Naomi Osaka during a changeover of the US Open final. EPA

Naomi Osaka lays down in celebration after winning the US Open title. Getty Images

Naomi Osaka and Victoria Azarenka accept their trophies during the trophy ceremony after their US Open final match. EPA

Naomi Osaka holds the championship trophy and Victoria Azarenka holds the finalist shield after their US Open final match. AFP

Naomi Osaka celebrates with the US Open trophy and her boyfriend Cordae. EPA

Japan's Naomi Osaka came from a set down to beat Victoria Azarenka of Belarus to win the US Open on Saturday and clinch her third Grand Slam title.

Ms Osaka, the fourth seed, overcame her unseeded opponent 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 inside a near-empty Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadows.

It brought the 22-year-old's haul of tennis major trophies to three after her victories at the 2018 US Open and 2019 Australian Open.

"I didn't really enjoy that. It was a really tough match for me," Osaka said following her 1hr 53min victory.

Ms Azarenka, 31, sprinted to the first set in just 26 minutes, dominating Osaka with an 88 percent success rate on her first serve.

The Japanese was uncharacteristically sloppy, hitting a whopping 13 unforced errors.

The Belarusian  then went 2-0 ahead in the second set before Osaka fought back to break her opponent's serve twice and take a 4-3 lead.

The momentum had quickly swung in Osaka's favour and she broke a third time to take the match to a deciding set.

Osaka enjoyed the first breakthrough of set three in game four when she broke Azarenka's serve to take a 3-1 lead.

Azarenka then blew a golden opportunity to get back into the match, wasting three break points as Osaka recovered from 0-40 to hold for a 4-1 lead.

Azarenka saved four break points to make it 4-2 as she battled to keep the contest alive and when she broke Osaka in game seven, the set was back on serve.

Victoria Azarenka may have finished runner-up but her run to the US Open final marks a renaissance for the veteran Belarusian. AP

But Osaka immediately broke back after Azarenka pushed a forehand wide to leave herself the opportunity of serving for the match and title.#

On Osaka's second championship point, Azarenka found the net.

After touching racquets with her opponent, Osaka lay down in the middle of the court and looked up at the sky in celebration.

"I always see everyone sort of collapse after match point. But I always think you may injure yourself so I wanted to do it safely," Osaka said.

Naomi Osaka of Japan fulfils a lifelong ambition of lying down on Arthur Ashe following a title win. Getty Images/AFP

The match was watched by just a few dozen people, mostly officials, journalists and event staff after the coronavirus pandemic forced the tournament to be held behind closed doors.

Osaka had walked onto the court wearing a mask bearing the name of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old African-American boy who was shot dead by a white police officer in Cleveland, Ohio in 2014.