Osaka wins on emotional US Open return

An affectional Naomi Osaka made a triumphant US Open return by beating Jelena Ostapenko successful a blockbuster first-round match.

Japan's Osaka is simply a two-time champion astatine Flushing Meadows, winning nan first of her 4 Grand Slam titles successful New York successful 2018 and repeating nan feat successful 2020.

She missed past year's tourney aft giving commencement to girl Shai but watched from nan crowd, which reignited her desire to compete.

The erstwhile world number 1 faced a reliable task against Latvian 10th seed Ostapenko, but came done 6-3 6-2 successful conscionable 63 minutes.

Osaka covered her look pinch her towel arsenic she cried tears of joyousness and alleviation aft nan win, and became affectional again successful her on-court interview.

"I was trying not to outcry erstwhile I was stepping out," nan 26-year-old said.

"I retrieve past twelvemonth I was watching Coco [Gauff] play and I truthful severely wanted to measurement connected these courts again.

"I didn't cognize if I could - athletically, physically, if I was capable to. Just to play this lucifer and beryllium successful this ambiance intends truthful overmuch to me, truthful convey you."

Victory complete Ostapenko was Osaka's first against a top-10 subordinate for 4 years.

Osaka, who besides won nan Australian Open successful 2019 and 2021, said earlier nan US Open astir not emotion "like I'm successful my body" since her return from maternity leave.

She gave commencement to girl Shai successful July 2023 and returned to nan WTA Tour successful January.

Although she has had immoderate notable performances - including coming wrong rubbing region of beating eventual champion Iga Swiatek astatine nan French Open - she has not gone beyond nan quarter-finals of immoderate event.

She besides has a reliable tie successful New York, pinch erstwhile French Open finalist Karolina Muchova awaiting successful nan 2nd round.

Asked astir her goals for nan tournament, Osaka said: "Keep focusing, support trying to play really well, but wide person a batch of fun.

"Last nighttime my girl didn't want to spell to slumber connected her furniture time, truthful I had to clasp her for rather a while and I was thinking: Oh wow, she really picked nan cleanable time not to spell to sleep.

"Moments for illustration that are truthful precious to maine and I tin only dream I support having more."