New York (AFP) – Two-time champion Naomi Osaka made a triumphant, tearful return to the US Open on Tuesday, beating 10th-seeded Latvian Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 a year after wondering if she would be back.
Japan’s Osaka missed last year’s US Open after giving birth to her daughter Shai, and the former world number one is still trying to kick her return to the sport into top gear.
But she was dialed in against 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko, firing 19 winners to wrap up the victory in just 63 minutes.
Osaka took the court with a nod to New York fashion in a bouncy tulle skirt and bow-bedecked jacket — shedding both to play in a ruffly green dress.
The playfull outfit belied the emotions she was feeling.
“I was trying not to cry when I was walking out,” Osaka said, tearing up during her post-match on-court interview.
“Last year I was watching Coco (Gauff) play and I so badly wanted to step on these courts again,” she said. “I didn’t know if I could … just to win this match and just to be in this atmosphere means so much to me.”
Osaka has made two quarter-finals at tour events in 2024 but has yet to progress beyond the second round at the majors.
Ostapenko was a tough first-round draw for Osaka, who is now ranked 88th and received a wildcard into the tournament.
“It was stressful,” Osaka said of the early going. “She was hitting some really good shots. I just told myself keep going and keep fighting for every point.”
