Sports
Naomi Osaka’s Emotional US Open Return Ends in Victory
Naomi Osaka made a remarkable and emotional comeback at the US Open, defeating 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko in a thrilling first-round match. The two-time US Open champion, who has four Grand Slam titles to her name, secured her win with a decisive 6-3, 6-2 scoreline in just 63 minutes.
Osaka, 26, missed last year’s tournament after giving birth to her daughter Shai but found her passion for the game reignited as she watched from the stands. Her return to Flushing Meadows was filled with emotions, as she fought back tears of joy and relief after clinching the victory.
In her on-court interview, a visibly moved Osaka shared her sentiments: “I was trying not to cry when I was walking out,” she said. “I remember last year I was watching Coco [Gauff] play, and I so badly wanted to step on these courts again. I didn’t know if I could—athletically, physically, if I was able to. Just to play this match and be in this atmosphere means so much to me, so thank you.”