Sports
Osaka Returns To US Open With Emotional Victory Against Ostapenko
Japan’s Osaka, a two-time champion at Flushing Meadows, claimed her first Grand Slam title in New York in 2018 and repeated the victory in 2020.
She missed last year’s tournament after the birth of her daughter Shai, but watching from the stands rekindled her competitive spirit.
Facing a tough challenge against Latvian 10th seed Ostapenko, Osaka secured a 6-3, 6-2 win in just 63 minutes.
Osaka broke down in tears of joy and relief after the match and became emotional again during her on-court interview.
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“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.”
Osaka’s win over Ostapenko marked her first victory against a top-10 player in four years.
The two-time Australian Open champion, who claimed titles in 2019 and 2021, recently shared her struggles with feeling “disconnected” since returning from maternity leave. After giving birth to her daughter Shai in July 2023, Osaka made her WTA Tour comeback in January.
Despite some impressive performances, including nearly defeating eventual champion Iga Swiatek at the French Open, Osaka has yet to progress beyond the quarter-finals of any tournament since her return. Her path at the US Open won’t be easy either, with former French Open finalist Karolina Muchova awaiting her in the second round.
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When asked about her objectives for the tournament, Osaka said: “Keep focusing, keep trying to play really well, but overall, have a lot of fun.”
“Last night my daughter didn’t want to go to sleep on her bed time, so I had to hold her for quite a while and I was thinking: Oh wow, she really picked the perfect day not to go to sleep.
“Moments like that are so precious to me and I can only hope I keep having more.”
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