Having lost in the first round of the past year’s competition, Japan’s Naomi Osaka proved her mettle and came back strongly to outclass the tenth-seeded Latvian player Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 in a rare first-round tussle between two past major champions. In the first match since giving birth in 2023, Osaka showed accuracy and strength in the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushing Meadows.
Osaka who has won four major titles maintained her service games and unleashed nine aces, proving she is the two-time champion at the US Open. On the contrary, Ostapenko’s serve was not very confident and solid, though, she committed 6 double faults and 21 unforced errors.
The first set went on a tight competition till 8-8 when Ostapenko hit the net cross-court backhand enabling Osaka to achieve her initial three service breaks. The second set was rather more comfortable for Osaka as she demonstrated how she dominated the courts early in her career, especially in New York, and kept a fierce serve in the fourth game, including three aces in a row.
Despite saving two match points Ostapenko could not do the same with Osaka’s cross-court forehand that put her through to the second round. She will next play with Karolina Muchova.
