Naomi Osaka is making her presence felt at the US Open, advancing to the third round for the first time since 2021. The 23rd-seeded Japanese star delivered a commanding performance, defeating Hailey Baptiste 6-3, 6-1 in just 70 minutes during their second-round match on Thursday. This strong showing comes under the guidance of her new coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski.
A Focused Approach with a New Coach
Osaka, who has won all four of her Grand Slam titles on hard courts (two at the US Open and two at the Australian Open), seems to be finding her rhythm on the familiar New York surface. After parting ways with coach Patrick Mouratoglou following Wimbledon last month, she began working with Wiktorowski, who previously coached Iga Swiatek. A key aspect of their collaboration, according to Osaka, is Wiktorowski’s emphasis on shot placement over consistently going for outright winners.
This strategic shift appears to be paying off. Osaka demonstrated her powerful game against Baptiste, but also showed a willingness to vary her shots with different speeds and spins. Her return game has also been particularly effective, winning 11 out of 18 return games played so far, including her first-round victory over Greet Minnen.
From ‘Scary’ to Supportive: A Coach’s Impact
Osaka admitted that her initial impression of Wiktorowski was one of intimidation due to his height and serious demeanor. “Honestly, I didn’t know him, I thought he was very scary, because he’s very tall and he didn’t smile,” she recalled. However, her perception quickly changed once they started working together. “Now that we’re working together, I see that he smiles often. He has a very friendly smile, and it’s very nice. That’s my little fun fact about Tomasz.”
When asked about her expectations for a deep run in the tournament, Osaka maintained a grounded perspective. “Honestly, I don’t really know. I don’t make it my business to know anymore. I kind of just leave it up in the air,” she said. “For me, I realize that I’ve done everything that I could. I’ve trained really hard. I practiced really hard. If it happens, it happens.”
Other US Open Highlights
The US Open has seen other notable performances as well. Venus Williams secured her first US Open women’s doubles win since 2014, partnering with Leylah Fernandez. Wimbledon champions Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner also advanced, though Sinner had a more straightforward victory. Coco Gauff battled through serving issues to win her match, while other notable results included wins for Amanda Anisimova, Alexander Zverev, and a marathon victory for Tommy Paul.
Looking ahead, Carlos Alcaraz, Jessica Pegula, Novak Djokovic, and Taylor Townsend are scheduled for key third-round matches on Friday.
What are your predictions for Naomi Osaka’s performance at the US Open? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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