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Iga Swiatek overcomes tough challenge, Naomi Osaka makes impressive return at US Open
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    Iga Swiatek overcomes tough challenge, Naomi Osaka makes impressive return at US Open

    NEW YORK — Top-ranked Iga Swiatek fought through a tough first-round match at the US Open on Tuesday, while two-time champion Naomi Osaka made an impressive return to the tournament by beating No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2.

    Osaka, the 2018 and 2020 champion in Flushing Meadows, needed only 64 minutes to oust Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion. It was the kind of performance that was standard from Osaka when she reached No. 1 in the rankings and won four Grand Slam titles between 2018-21.

    But she had missed large gaps of time since, first for mental health breaks and then after giving birth, and just this month posted on social media about the struggles of not playing as well as she used to after failing to qualify for the tournament in Cincinnati.

    She smashed 19 winners against only five unforced errors Tuesday.

    Swiatek had a more difficult time, edging Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 7-6 (6). The 2022 champion was one point away from being forced to a third set when Rakhimova took a 6-3 lead in the tiebreaker. But Swiatek recovered and won the next five points, finishing the match when her opponent missed a backhand.

    Swiatek improved to 22-1 in first-round matches at Grand Slams, including 6-0 at the U.S. Open.

    Danielle Collins’ singles career at Grand Slams ended when the No. 11 seed was upset by fellow American Caroline Dolehide 1-6, 7-5, 6-4. Collins, 30, has announced she plans to retire at the end of the season. She is still entered in doubles at Flushing Meadows.

    Jannik Sinner, the No. 1 seed on the men’s side, followed Swiatek onto Arthur Ashe Stadium for his opening-round match. It was his first action since word emerged that he had failed two drug tests in March but escaped suspension.

    No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas and No. 19 Felix Auger-Aliassime were both knocked out in the first round, while No. 7 Hubert Hurkacz and No. 25 Jack Draper were among the men’s winners.

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    In a thrilling match at the US Open, rising tennis star Iga Swiatek overcame a tough challenge from former world number one Naomi Osaka to secure her spot in the quarterfinals. The match was highly anticipated, as both players have been in top form throughout the tournament.

    Swiatek, the reigning French Open champion, showed her resilience and determination as she battled against Osaka, who was making an impressive return to the court after taking a break from tennis earlier in the year. The young Polish player displayed her trademark aggressive style of play, hitting powerful groundstrokes and moving with speed and precision around the court.

    Osaka, a two-time US Open champion, put up a strong fight and showed flashes of her trademark power and precision. However, Swiatek’s consistency and composure under pressure proved to be the difference in the match. The 20-year-old displayed maturity beyond her years as she weathered Osaka’s powerful shots and stayed focused on her game plan.

    The victory over Osaka marks another milestone in Swiatek’s rapidly rising career. The young player has been making waves on the WTA tour with her impressive performances and has quickly established herself as one of the top players in the world. Her win over Osaka at the US Open is sure to boost her confidence and further solidify her status as a force to be reckoned with in women’s tennis.

    As for Osaka, her return to competitive tennis after a break earlier in the year was met with mixed results. While she showed flashes of her top form and demonstrated her ability to compete at the highest level, she ultimately fell short against Swiatek. However, her performance at the US Open is a promising sign for the future, and fans can expect to see more great tennis from the talented Japanese player in the coming months.

    Overall, the match between Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka at the US Open was a thrilling display of high-quality tennis from two of the sport’s brightest stars. Swiatek’s victory is a testament to her skill and determination, while Osaka’s return to form is a positive sign for her future in the sport. Tennis fans can look forward to more exciting matches from these two talented players as they continue to make their mark on the WTA tour.