Naomi Osaka didn't show any signs of nerves today as the former world No. 1 routed 47th-ranked American Hailey Baptiste with just four lost games 6-3 6-1 to easily progress into the US Open third round.
On Tuesday, the Japanese kicked off her ninth campaign at Flushing Meadows by overcoming Greetje Minnen 6-3 6-4. In each of the two sets, the four-time Grand Slam champion blew an early break before getting the job done. Later, she admitted to feeling "very stressed" throughout the entire match.
Today, Osaka also got and blew an early break - but all of that happened through the opening three games of the match. The former world No. 1 didn't panic, breaking Baptiste again in the sixth game and taking the first set after not facing any additional break points. After sealing the opener, the Japanese tennis star completed her two-set win in an impressive way after breaking the American in the first, fifth and seventh games of the second set.
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Who is Osaka's third-round rival at the US Open?
In the US Open third round, Osaka faces the winner of the match between No. 15 seed Daria Kasatkina and Kamilla Rakhimova. If the 27-year-old Japanese wins, she will make her second week at Flushing Meadows for the first time since winning the tournament in 2020.
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. So as a little kid, I used to be in those stands. I have always wondered what it would feel like to be the one actually playing. I think its something that you just kind of grow up watching, and then youre finally there," Osaka said at the start of this year's final Grand Slam of the season.
