If Naomi Osaka is going to break back into the tennis elite, the US Open is a natural place for her to do so.
The two-time US Open champion defeated No. 10 seed Jeļena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 in the first round on Tuesday, marking her first win over a top-10 opponent in four years. Osaka’s most recent such win was over Kiki Bertans at the 2020 Brisbane International.
Osaka, 26, was visibly emotional after the match:
The form on display was vintage Osaka, who overwhelmed Ostapenko in a way that should be familiar to anyone who has watched Osaka win Grand Slam titles. It started with a dominant serve, as she won 24 of 30 first-serve points with nine aces and zero double-faults.
Sporting a Tinkerbell-esque, neon green outfit, Osaka committed only five unforced errors across two sets, compared to 21 from Ostapenko, and didn’t fail a single break point.
From the US Open:
“[Ostapenko] was hitting some really good shots, and I just told myself: ‘Keep going, keep going and keep fighting for every point, and maybe you’ll have an opportunity.’ Eventually I did.”
Osaka will advance to face a fellow former top-10 player in Karolína Muchová, who had her 2024 season derailed by a wrist injury. A win Thursday would give Osaka her first appearance in the third round of a Grand Slam since the 2022 Australian Open.
Osaka hasn’t reached the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam since she won the 2021 Australian Open, which is a very long time in tennis. Months after winning that 2021 Australian Open, Osaka put her career on hiatus, citing mental health issues, amid a controversy over her refusal to speak with the media at the French Open. She struggled to return to form upon her return and went on another hiatus after getting upset at the US Open.
The 2022 season wasn’t much better for Osaka, as she struggled with injuries and consistency, and then she took off all of 2023 after announcing that she was pregnant. She is now making her way back in 2024.
After losing in the first round of the Australian Open this year, Osaka put a scare into world No. 1 Iga Swiatek at the French Open, taking the eventual champion to match point. Overall, she is 18-15 this year, with no titles.