If Naomi Osaka is going to break back into the tennis elite, the US Open is a natural place for her to do so.
The two-time US Open champion defeated No. 10 seed Jeu013cena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 in the first round on Tuesday, marking her first win over a top-10 opponent in four years. Osaka's most recent such win was over Kiki Bertans at the 2020 Brisbane International.
Osaka, 26, was visibly emotional after the match:
Soak it all in, @naomiosaka ud83eudd79 pic.twitter.com/nFLRG0NJX1
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 27, 2024
The form on display was vintage Osaka, who overwhelmed Ostapenko in a way that should be familiar to anyone who has watched Osaka win Grand Slam titles.