Defending champion of the US Open, Naomi Osaka, claimed a straight-set victory on her first Grand Slam appearance since withdrawing from the French Open. The third-seeded Japanese smashed the Czech world number 87 Marie Bouzkova for a 2-0 (6:4, 6:1) first-round win.
In the next round, Naomi Osaka will face world number 145 Olga Danilovic of Serbia.
Marie Bouzkova showed impressive early resistance in New York, but Osaka eventually got a break at 5:4 up to seal the first set.
After her win, Naomi Osaka said she felt “really comfortable” playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium again, adding it was “kind of crazy” to play in front of fans after the tournament was held behind closed doors in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Last year when we didn’t have a crowd I know it felt quite lonely for me. I’m just really glad to see little kids in the audience and of course grown-ups too. To be playing the first night match is something I’ve never done before so I’m just glad I won”, said Naomi Osaka.
Naomi Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam singles champion and is the reigning champion at the US Open and the Australian Open. Her seven titles on the WTA Tour also include two at the Premier Mandatory level. She has been ranked No. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and is the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles.
