NEW YORK (AP) — A year ago, still on maternity leave and still unsure when she would return to playing elite tennis, Naomi Osaka visited the US Open to perform with Michael Phelps for a Discussion about mental healthWhile she was there, she sat in the stands and watched one of Coco Gauff’s games.
Osaka was already thinking about being back on court at Flushing Meadows, and even considering what she might wear to compete. And there she was on Tuesday at Louis Armstrong Stadium, beating No. 10 seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 while clad in lime green from her visor to her dress to the bows on her back and her shoes – the color of this ” brat “-Summer, as it happens (IYKYK) – and he plays very much like a two-time champion in this spot and a former No. 1 star.
“I feel like it gives me a different kind of strength to be involved in designing my tennis outfits, especially the US Open outfits. I think they’re a little more extravagant. When I put my outfit on today, I thought, ‘Ah, I hope this isn’t too much,'” Osaka said, smiling. “Because I had the tutu and then the bow jacket and it was green. I feel like everyone was staring at me.”
Another player asked for a photo, Osaka said, adding: “I hope it was a positive picture and not something like, ‘Oh my God, look at her.’ When I put the outfit on, it’s almost like a super suit for me, so I try to emulate that.”
She did this well enough on Tuesday to record her first win against a top-10 opponent in over four years.
Osaka won titles in New York in 2018 and 2020, as well as two trophies at the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021. Her clash with 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko marked the first time two former major champions had faced each other in the opening round of the US Open since Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova five years ago. Another such clash took place on Tuesday night, when the 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin defeated 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu 6:1, 3:6, 6:4.
“Two wins here mean a lot to me and I think I’ve been struggling with confidence all year,” said Osaka, who returned to action at the Australian Open in January. It was her first Grand Slam appearance in nearly a year and a half, as she has struggled with mental health issues and had to take a break to give birth. “This time forces me to look in the mirror and say, ‘Hey, you did really well here. There’s no reason you can’t make it up again.'”
How good is that? Osaka didn’t make a single unforced error in the first set and finished the set with just five points, 16 fewer than Ostapenko.
“I remember thinking, ‘I have to win this match so I can wear my other color.’ That was very important to me,” said Osaka, who is ranked 88th in the world and received a wildcard invitation from the US Tennis Association. “I guess you’ll see my other color next time.”
Next up will be Thursday’s clash against 2023 French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova, who beat Katie Volynets of the USA 6-3, 7-5.
Other women who advanced to the second round included No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who beat Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 7-6 (6) by winning the last five points after having to save three set points because she was down 6-3 in the tiebreak, and major winners Elena Rybakina and Caroline Wozniacki. No. 5 Jasmine Paolini, a finalist at the French Open and Wimbledon this year, beat 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4, while No. 11 Danielle Collins’ Grand Slam singles career ended with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 loss to Caroline Dolehide in an all-American matchup. Collins, 30, is retiring after this season.
Another American who recently announced her retirement, Shelby Rogers, lost the final match of her career 6-4, 6-3 to No. 6 Jessica Pegula after four-time major winner Carlos Alcaraz defeated qualifier Li Tu 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Pegula will next face Kenin.
Formerly in Ashe, No. 1 Jannik Sinner played his first match since it was announced that he was cleared in a doping case for two failed tests in March. Although he got off to a slow start, the 23-year-old Italian quickly recovered to eliminate Mackie McDonald 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2.
Other seeded men who advanced included No. 5 Daniil Medvedev, No. 7 Hubert Hurkacz and No. 25 Jack Draper, but No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas and No. 19 Felix Auger-Aliassime both lost, as did No. 23 Karen Khachanov, who lost in the longest US Open match since tiebreakers were introduced in 1970.
Dan Evans sneaked past Khachanov 6-7 (6), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 over 5 hours, 35 minutesThe final set, in which Evans was 0-4 down, itself lasted 61 minutes – and was the shortest set they played.
“As a kid, you’re always told to fight to the end. That’s kind of Rule 1. I’ve done that pretty consistently throughout my career,” Evans said. “Today, it kind of paid off a little bit.”
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