Naomi Osaka made a stirring return to the US Open by defeating Jelena Ostapenko in a highly anticipated first-round match. Osaka, a two-time US Open champion, clinched the victory with a score of 6-3 6-2 in just 63 minutes.
The Japanese star had missed last year’s tournament after giving birth to her daughter, Shai. During her absence, she watched the event from the stands, which fueled her desire to return to competitive play.
In her comeback match, Osaka faced a formidable opponent in the 10th seed Ostapenko. Despite the challenge, Osaka delivered a strong performance, marking her first win against a top-10 player in four years.
Osaka’s last Grand Slam titles were at the US Open in 2018 and 2020. She also won the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021. Following the birth of her daughter in July 2023, Osaka resumed her WTA Tour career in January 2024.
Although she has had notable performances, including a near win against Iga Swiatek at the French Open, Osaka has not advanced past the quarter-finals of any event since her return. She faces former French Open finalist Karolina Muchova in the second round.
In her post-match interview, Osaka expressed her emotions, saying, “I was trying not to cry when I was walking out. I remember last year I was watching Coco [Gauff] play and I so badly wanted to step on these courts again. I didn’t know if I could – athletically, physically, if I was able to. Just to play this match and be in this atmosphere means so much to me, so thank you.”
Osaka also shared her thoughts on her goals for the tournament, stating, “Keep focusing, keep trying to play really well, but overall have a lot of fun. Last night my daughter didn’t want to go to sleep on her bed time, so I had to hold her for quite a while and I was thinking: Oh wow, she really picked the perfect day not to go to sleep. Moments like that are so precious to me and I can only hope I keep having more.”
