Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Many of you knew her as the talented up-and-comer who stunned Sam Stosur in the first round of the Bank Of The West Classic in Stanford last summer, but there’s another reason to keep an eye on Japan’s Naomi Osaka now – she’s this year’s WTA Rising Stars Invitational champion.

Osaka, who just turned 18 years old a week ago, held her nerve through a very tense finish to the second set to stun heavy favorite Caroline Garcia in the final on Sunday afternoon, 3-5, 5-4(6), 4-1.

The No.35-ranked Garcia is the second-highest-ranked player Osaka has beaten in her blossoming career after the aforementioned win over Stosur – the Australian was ranked No.19 at the time.

Currently in its second year, the WTA Rising Stars Invitational brings four WTA Rising Stars together through a fan vote to compete alongside the best of the best at the WTA Finals – Zhu Lin from China and Ons Jabeur from Tunisia were the other two players in this year’s four-woman field in Singapore.

Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig won the inaugural WTA Rising Stars Invitational a year ago.

Garcia’s stay in Singapore this year isn’t done by any means – she’s competing in the women’s doubles alongside Katarina Srebotnik. They play their first match at the Singapore Sports Hub on Monday.

Source: WTA

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.