Naomi Osaka Shines With First-Round US Open
Naomi Osaka is showing the world that she's ready to be in the running for the US Open championship.
In less than an hour and 23 minutes, Osaka defeated Greet Minnen 6-3, 6-4 in her opening-round match Tuesday night (August 26) at Louis Armstrong Stadium for her 50th career win.
“I think, honestly, I could have had a better attitude. Like, I was just very stressed. It was the first round, and this tournament means a lot to me. I really wanted to win,” Osaka said after the match. “I wish I thought more about the process rather than the result, but I'm glad I was able to win.”
Now ranked 24th in the world, Osaka has been steadily climbing her way back to dominant form the tennis world has been accustomed to seeing. At last year’s US Open she was ranked 88th, and began this season at No. 57, posting a win-loss record of 32-14. She spoke about the importance of seeing in the tournament.
“Honestly, protection,” Osaka laughed. “I was hitting with [world No. 13 Karolina] Muchova the other day, and I was like: ‘Thank God I don't have to play you in the first or second round.’
Not only did she win the match with a dominant performance, the two-time US Open winner did it in style donning a crystalized Nike bubble hem skirt, a ponytail with sparkly red roses and matching headphones and a matching Labubu that she named “Billie Jean Bling.”
“It was really elaborate, because the crystals are really hard to do on a performance outfit,” Osaka explained.. “I just thought it would be really fun to do a New York under the lights. I’m glad that my first match was a night match, because this outfit was really fun to play. This is my night outfit, so hopefully I’ll wear my day outfit next time.”
In collaboration with her stylist, they came up with the pony tail accessories over the last couple of weeks.
“I was like, ‘Do you think this is possible?’ Maybe it was two weeks ago,” Osaka said. “Yeah, we kind of just toss ideas around. Obviously the outcome is way better than I could have imagined.”
Next up for Osaka is Hailey Baptiste on Thursday, August 28.
