Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, kicked off her comeback at the U.S. Open with a straight-set victory over 10th-ranked Jelena Ostapenko in the first round on Tuesday.
Dressed in a striking green ruffled skirt and a white bow designed by Nike, Osaka was determined to make a strong impression after a challenging season.
Playing in front of a full house at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Osaka’s positive energy was evident as she defeated her Latvian competitor, who had significantly outperformed her this year with 11 more match victories.
Overcome with emotion after the match, Osaka received a standing ovation from the crowd. “I really wanted to step on these courts again,” she shared. “I didn’t know if I could… Winning this match and being in this atmosphere means so much to me.”
Osaka gained entry to the women’s singles main draw through a wildcard after not qualifying based on her ranking. She came into the tournament with an 18-15 record and was ranked 88th in the world.
Following a defeat in the qualifying rounds at the Cincinnati Open, Osaka candidly discussed her mental health struggles since the birth of her first child in a recent Instagram post. “I don’t feel like I’m in my body,” she had expressed, promising to give her all as she arrived in New York.
Her efforts seem to be paying off in the early stages of the tournament.
Osaka is a two-time U.S. Open champion, famously winning in a contentious match against Serena Williams in 2018. Her last appearance in 2022 ended with a first-round loss to American Danielle Collins.
During her address to the crowd, Osaka revealed she had held her daughter the night before, as she struggled to sleep. While the timing was challenging, she found it to be a meaningful moment. “Moments like that are really precious to me, and I hope to keep having more,” she reflected.
The first round of the U.S. Open also featured notable excitement surrounding 16-year-old Iva Jokic, who made history as the youngest American to win a women’s main-draw match at the U.S. Open since 2000.
Osaka’s next match will be against Karolina Muchova in the second round on Thursday.