By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Former world no. 1 female tennis player and four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka kicked off her US Open campaign on a high note after sweeping world no. 10 Jelena Ostapenko- 6.3, 6.2- on August 28, 2024, held in Queens, New York.
Osaka, who is yet to win a Grand Slam championship title in three years, made quick work of Ostapenko after handing her a forehand clinic from the get-go.
Despite inconsistency issues Osaka faced after staying away from professional tennis when she focused on motherhood two years ago, the former face of the sport made a strong impression against Ostapenko and turned back the hands of time with her power and well-calculated return aces.
The venue at Queens felt like 2021 again after Osaka overpowered the higher-ranked Ostapenko, scoring points at will from the baseline exchanges.
Aside from Osaka’s power-hitting display, the Japanese ace also concluded the first-round matchup going crazy in the service game, capping off the win with nine tallied service aces.
Osaka built her nine made service aces from an impressive 80% winning percentage from her first serves and didn’t commit a single double fault in the whole set.
After a masterclass in the opening frame, Osaka topped her performance with a more dominant outing in the next set, breaking Ostapenko immediately to jump ahead with a three-point lead.
It was then all Osaka in the next four game sets as Ostapenko slowly crashed out and allowed the Japanese to capitalize on every opportunity given to her.
Ostapenko had the chance to inch close after holding her service possession in the fourth game set but Osaka countered back with another hold and ended the match with back-to-back forehand drive winners.
With the lopsided win, Osaka will next be facing Karolina Muchova from the Czech Republic in the second round of the US Open tourney.
