US Open: Naomi Osaka in tears after victory over Jelena Ostapenko
Naomi Osaka made a triumphant return to the Louis Armstrong Stadium, entering her first match since giving birth to her daughter, Shai, with a clear focus on victory.
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The two-time US Open champion faced Jelena Ostapenko, a player known for her powerful and disruptive style, but Osaka was determined to assert her dominance from the outset.
The former world number one faced a tough task against Latvian 10th seed Ostapenko, but came through 6-3 6-2 in just 63 minutes.
Japan's Osaka is a two-time champion at Flushing Meadows, winning the first of her four Grand Slam titles in New York in 2018 and repeating the feat in 2020.
She missed last year's tournament after giving birth to daughter Shai but watched from the crowd, which reignited her desire to compete.
Osaka covered her face with her towel as she cried tears of joy and relief after the win, and became emotional again in her on-court interview.
Osaka delivered a near-flawless performance in the first set, not committing a single unforced error, and taking the set 6-3 with precision and control.
Wearing her new Nike outfit, Osaka looked every bit the champion, focused and determined not to let her opponent gain any momentum.
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The second set saw Osaka continue her strong play, with only a brief slip while serving for the match. Nevertheless, she closed out the set 6-2, securing a straight-sets victory and advancing to the next round.
"I was trying not to cry when I was walking out," the 26-year-old said.
"I remember last year I was watching Coco [Gauff] play and I so badly wanted to step on these courts again.
"I didn't know if I could - athletically, physically, if I was able to. Just to play this match and be in this atmosphere means so much to me, so thank you," she added.