Naomi Osaka reveals reasons behind her emotions after opening-round win at the US Open

Naomi Osaka is bidding to win a third US Open title this year after missing out on the tournament last year due to her pregnancy.

Naomi Osaka reveals reasons behind her emotions after opening-round win at the US Open

Naomi Osaka and her IG Story (via X/Naomi Osaka/IG)

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka made a triumphant return to the US Open with a world-class performance against Jelena Ostapenko. The former World No. 1 beat the tenth seed 6-3, 6-2.

After the win, Osaka became a little emotional. Although she briefly explained her feelings in the post-match interview, she provided deeper insight into her emotions in her latest Instagram story.

YouTube video

Osaka was unavailable during the 2023 WTA season due to pregnancy. She made her return to the tour earlier this year in Brisbane.

FS Video
I've been asked why I was so emotional yesterday, and honestly, if you don't even include coming back from pregnancy, New York being my home, etc, this was me a year ago. I legitimately couldn't walk without pain, and I didn't know if I could play at a high intensity anymore. So yeaa, this sport means a lot to me.
Naomi Osaka wrote on her Instagram story

She performed well at Roland Garros, where she narrowly lost to Iga Swiatek after having a match point. However, her win over Ostapenko will greatly boost her confidence.

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Naomi Osaka puts on a masterclass against Jelena Ostapenko in the US Open

Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, delivered a dominant performance against tenth seed Jelena Ostapenko, winning 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the US Open. This victory marked her first win over a Top 10 player in four-and-a-half years.

Naomi Osaka (via Getty Images)
Naomi Osaka (via X)

Osaka’s game was sharp, as she hit 19 winners and made only five unforced errors. She won 39 out of 50 service points and did not face a single break.

Osaka has now won 23 out of 28 matches (82.1 win percentage) at the US Open. Among active players with at least ten main-draw matches, only Bianca Andreescu has a better winning percentage at this tournament. Although Osaka is ranked No. 88 and needed a wild card to enter, she played far above her ranking. Her next match is against Karolina Muchova, who defeated Katie Volynets in straight sets.

Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion, has had a strong 2024 season. The 27-year-old from Latvia, currently ranked No. 10, started the year by winning 13 of her first 15 matches, securing titles in Adelaide and Linz. She also reached the quarterfinals in Rome and Wimbledon, where she was defeated by Aryna Sabalenka and Barbora Krejcikova, respectively.

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