By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Naomi Osaka crushed Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 in a US Open first-round clash of Grand Slam champions to score her first Top 10 win in four years.
Photo credit: Darren Carroll/US Open/USTA
NEW YORK—Turning her back to the court, Naomi Osaka unleashed a series of shadow swings
Even when the ball wasn’t in play, Osaka was ripping away today.
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Playing near pristine first-strike tennis, Osaka crushed Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 in a US Open first-round clash of Grand Slam champions on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Two-time US Open champion Osaka delivered the most dynamic tennis since she returned to the tour this season from maternity leave.
It was Osaka’s first Top 10 win in more than four years, coming nearly 1,700 days after she defeated No. 9 Kiki Bertens at the 2020 Brisbane.
Facing elite players can bring out the best in Osaka, who held match points against No. 1 Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros this year before bowing.
"I would definitely say I'm not sure if it's motivation or if I feel like I have no other choice but to play well," Osaka said. "And then it gets rid of all the expectations and all the pressure I put on myself, because I know, like, no matter what, the tennis is going to be really great tennis, even if I win or lose."
An emotional Osaka seemed to pinch back tears with her blue towel after a commanding performance.
On her third match point, Osaka fired a forehand crosscourt closing an impressive 64-minute victory. Afterward, Osaka thanked the packed Louis Armstrong Stadium fans for their support, particularly when nerves popped up at closing time.
“I mean, it was stressful,” Osaka told Pam Shriver in her on-court interview. “She was hitting some really good shots. And I just told myself: Keep going, keep fighting for every point and maybe you’ll have an opportunity.
“Eventually, I did. But then I looked up and I saw so many faces so I was like Whoa.”
Wearing an elaborate emerald Nike dress with detachable hoop skirt and giant bow jacket, Osaka dressed down one of the game’s premier returners.
Wild card Osaka dotted all corners of the serving box, blasting nine aces against no double faults while winning 24 of 30 first-serve points without surrendering serve.
A year ago, Ostapenko knocked No. 1 Iga Swiatek out of the US Open fourth round. Today, the 2017 Roland Garros champion struggled to gain traction in Osaka service games.
The former world No. 1 was cracking clean drives from the outset. Osaka smacked nine winners against no unforced errors in an immactulate opening set.
A running forehand drive gave Osaka break point in the eighth game and when Ostapenko netted a drive, the Japanese broke for a 5-3 lead.
Osaka served out the 29-minute opening set at love.
Rapping a return down the line, Osaka broke to start the second set and immediately backed up the break for a 6-3, 2-0 lead.
Sustaining a high energy level throughout the match and did not commit an error until 33 minutes—and 50 points—into this match.
It is Osaka’s first US Open win since the 2021 second round when she took a walkover win from qualifier Olga Danilovic before bowing to Leylah Fernandez in three sets.
Next up for the 2018 and 2020 US Open champion is another stirring showdown vs. former French Open finalist Karolina Muchova. The pair have split two prior meetings
The 2023 US Open semifinalist Muchova stopped American Katie Volynets 6-3, 7-5.
Muchova hit 24 more winners—30 to 6—and converted five of seven break points in a one hour, 41-minute victory.