By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 30, 2021
Reigning champion Osaka flew through seven straight games defeating Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-1 for her eighth straight US Open win.
Photo credit: Getty
Naomi Osaka tuned up for the US Open refurbishing her childhood court in Queens last week.
Tonight, an overwhelming Osaka painted Maria Bouzkova into the corners reclaiming her comfort zone on the game's biggest Grand Slam stage.
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Commanding the center of the court, defending champion Osaka flew through seven straight games defeating Bouzkova 6-4, 6-1 for her eighth straight US Open win.
Aiming to defend a Grand Slam title for the first time, Osaka scored her 15th consecutive Grand Slam hard-court victory in an opening-night statement before a festive crowd that included former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash and journalist Gayle King.
The two-time US Open champion drilled 33 winners compared to 10 for Bouzkova, moved with urgency and denied all eight break points she faced in a one hour, 33-minute victory. Osaka advanced to a second-round match vs. 145th-ranked Serbian Olga Danilovic in round two.
"I’ve played a lot of matches on this court; I think it might be the court I played the most matches in my career," Osaka told ESPN's Rennae Stubbs in her on-court interview. "I definitely feel comfortable here and I think playing the night match is a really big honor of course. And to be playing the first night match is something I've never done before. So I’m just glad I won."
The volatility Osaka can conjure was evident when she rallied from triple break point down in the third game. Osaka blasted a backhand into the corner to save the third break point, eventually holding for 2-1.
Watching Bouzkova stay in step with the reigning champion for much of the opening set it’s baffling how Bouzkova had failed to survive the first round in nine of her prior 10 Grand Slam appearances. Though she can't match the defending champion's power, Bouzkova crept close to the baseline at times to return trying to redirect the barrage of blasts she faced. Bouzkova earned more break points than Osaka in the match, but Osaka's ability to detonate points with big swings blew open the match.
Showing stretches of her explosiveness early, Osaka was still searching for her range and rhythm in the ninth game when Bouzkova earned a break point. Osaka rocketed successive serve winners then banged a 120 mph bullet down the T holding for 5-4 with a bang.
Empowered by the hold, Osaka belted a pair of big backhands lashing her two-hander down the line for set point. Osaka had a good look at a forehand but dragged it into the net.
A crackling rally ended with Bouzkova missing a backhand to give Osaka second set point. Pouncing from a crouch, Osaka hammered her two-handed return drawing the error to take the opening set on the strength of a lone break. Osaka was opening her shoulders and striking with more conviction as the set progressed: she hit 21 winners compared to eight for Bouzkova.
The speed of the Arthur Ashe Stadium hard court accentuates Osaka’s power. Digging out a defensive backhand to extend the point, Osaka found her footing and fired a forehand winner down the line breaking for her fourth consecutive game and a 2-0 second-set lead. Growing stronger as the match progressed, Osaka extended her lead to 5-0.
Continuing to battle with commitment, Bouzkova held at 15 to snap her slide at seven games.
On her second match point, Osaka swatted a forehand down the line—her 34th winner of the night—to seal a strong opening night performance in one hour, 33 minutes.