A 'changing of the guard' but Osaka insists Serena still queen

MELBOURNE－Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka said she felt comfortable being a role model for the next generation after her fourth Grand Slam victory solidified her position at the forefront of a new era for tennis.

But the Japanese star, a four-time major winner at the age of just 23, insisted 39-year-old American great Serena Williams－who has 23 Slam crowns－remains the face of the women's game.

Osaka beat Jennifer Brady of the United States 6-4, 6-3 in the Australian Open final on Saturday to win her fourth Slam from the last eight in which she has played, and extend her win streak to 21 matches.