Naomi Osaka admits she felt "very stressed" during her opening match at the US Open, only because the New York-hosted Grand Slam tournament is a special event for her and she absolutely didn't want to lose in the first round.
The 2018 and 2020 US Open champion, who finished as runner-up in Montreal three weeks ago, overcame Greetje Minnen 6-3 6-4 in her first match since losing to Victoria Mboko in the Canadian Open final.
Early in the match, Osaka blew a break, but didn't allow that to negatively impact her since she still bagged the first set with breaks in the seventh and ninth games.
The Japanese also started the second set with an early break and a 2-0 lead. But this time, the former world No. 1 didn't only blow a break but she also found herself trailing by one when Minnen opened a 4-3 lead and had a chance to serve out for a 5-3 lead. However, just when it started to seem that the match might go three sets, the four-time Grand Slam winner responded with back-to-back breaks in the eighth and 10th games to overturn the deficit and get the job done in straight sets.
Osaka: I was very stressed... I could have had a better attitude
"I think, honestly, I could have had a better attitude. Like, I was just very stressed. It was the first round, and this tournament means a lot to me. I really wanted to win. I wish I thought more about the process rather than the result, but I'm glad I was able to win," the former world No. 1 admitted.
Osaka famously became a Grand Slam champion after upsetting Serena Williams in the 2018 final at Flushing Meadows.
For me, the US Open is an embodiment of New York, and its very loud and busy, but its also really special. Im OK with it, because I grew up here," the 27-year-old noted.
Osaka plays against Hailey Baptiste in the US Open second round.
