NEW YORK (AP) — A 12 months in the past, nonetheless on maternity depart and nonetheless uncertain when she would play elite tennis once more, Naomi Osaka visited the U.S. Open to look with Michael Phelps for a dialogue about psychological well being. Whereas on the web site, she sat within the stands to look at considered one of Coco Gauff’s matches.
Osaka additionally already was fascinated by being again on a court docket at Flushing Meadows, a lot in order that she was pondering what she would possibly wish to put on to compete. And there she was Tuesday at Louis Armstrong Stadium, overpowering No. 10 seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 whereas decked out, from her visor to her gown to the bows on her again and connected to her footwear, in lime inexperienced — the colour of this “ Brat ” summer time, because it occurs (IYKYK) — and enjoying very very similar to a two-time champion on the place and a former No. 1-ranked star.
“I really feel like with the ability to be part of (designing) my tennis outfits provides me, I’d say, a distinct power, particularly the U.S. Open outfits. I really feel like they’re a bit of bit extra flamboyant. Once I was placing on my outfit at present, I used to be, like, ‘Ah, I hope this isn’t an excessive amount of,’” Osaka stated with a smile. “As a result of I had the tutu, after which I had the bow jacket and it was inexperienced. I really feel like everybody was watching me.”
One other participant requested for a photograph, Osaka stated, including: “I hope it was a constructive image (and) it wasn’t, like, ‘Oh, my God, take a look at her.’ For me, once I placed on the outfit, it’s nearly like a brilliant go well with, so I attempt to channel that.”
Did that properly sufficient Tuesday to register her first victory in opposition to a top-10 opponent in additional than 4 years.
Osaka claimed titles in New York in 2018 and 2020, together with a pair of trophies on the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, and her matchup in opposition to 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko marked the primary time two previous main champs confronted off within the opening spherical on the U.S. Open since Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova 5 years in the past. One other such contest got here Tuesday evening, when 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin beat 2021 U.S. Open winner Emma Raducanu 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
“Having two wins right here means quite a bit, and I feel for me, I’ve been fighting confidence all year long,” stated Osaka, who returned to motion on the Australian Open in January, her first Grand Slam look in practically 1 1/2 years due to psychological well being breaks and time away to have a child. “This time now forces me to look within the mirror and say, ‘Hey, you’ve carried out very well right here. There’s no purpose why you’ll be able to’t do properly once more.’”
How’s this for doing properly? Osaka didn’t make a single unforced error within the first set and completed with solely 5, 16 fewer than Ostapenko.
“I do bear in mind considering, ‘I must win this match so I can put on my different coloration.’ That was crucial to me,” stated Osaka, who’s ranked 88th and obtained a wild-card invitation from the U.S. Tennis Affiliation. “I suppose you’ll see my different coloration subsequent time.”
Subsequent time can be Thursday in opposition to 2023 French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova, a 6-3, 7-5 winner in opposition to Katie Volynets of the U.S.
Different girls transferring into the second spherical included No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who bought previous Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 7-6 (6) by taking the final 5 factors after needing to erase a trio of set factors as a result of she trailed 6-3 within the tiebreaker, and previous main champions Elena Rybakina and Caroline Wozniacki. No. 5 Jasmine Paolini, a finalist on the French Open and Wimbledon this 12 months, beat 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4, whereas No. 11 Danielle Collins’ Grand Slam singles profession ended with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 loss to Caroline Dolehide in an all-American matchup. The 30-year-old Collins is retiring after this season.
One other American who just lately introduced her retirement, Shelby Rogers, misplaced the ultimate match of her profession by a 6-4, 6-3 rating to No. 6 Jessica Pegula at evening, after four-time main champion Carlos Alcaraz defeated qualifier Li Tu 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Pegula meets Kenin subsequent.
Earlier in Ashe, No. 1 Jannik Sinner performed his first match since information got here out that he was cleared in a doping case involving two failed assessments in March, and whereas he bought off to a gradual begin, the 23-year-old Italian rapidly bounced again to eradicate Mackie McDonald 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2.
Different seeded males advancing included No. 5 Daniil Medvedev, No. 7 Hubert Hurkacz and No. 25 Jack Draper, however No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas and No. 19 Felix Auger-Aliassime each misplaced, as did No. 23 Karen Khachanov, who got here out on the mistaken finish of the longest U.S. Open match, by time, since tiebreakers had been instituted in 1970.
Dan Evans snuck previous Khachanov 6-7 (6), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 throughout 5 hours, 35 minutes. The ultimate set, by which Evans trailed 4-0, took 61 minutes itself — and was the shortest set they performed.
“While you’re a child, you’re simply advised to battle till the top. I imply, that’s form of Rule 1. I’ve carried out that fairly persistently for my profession,” Evans stated. “It form of paid off a bit at present.”
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AP tennis:
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