[divider style=”solid” color=”#cccccc” opacity=”0.5″ icon=”arrow-down” icon_color=”#666666″ icon_size=”15″ placement=”up”]
[1] Naomi Osaka -01- (JPN) def Anna Blinkova -84- (RUS)
Match recap from the Arthur Ashe Stadium narrator Andy Taylor...
Admittedly, defending champion Naomi Osaka was nervous before walking on to Arthur Ashe Stadium Tuesday afternoon. She captured her first Major on this court last year, lifting the trophy in a raucuos and surreal champion’s celebration following Serena’s 3 code-violations during the Final.
However, and encouragingly, it wasn’t the traumatic memory of “the celebration” that gave her the butterflies, it was the pressure she puts on herself not to let-down her family and fans. As she said in the post-match interview, after winning the title here last year – she just didn’t want to go out in the 1st-Round.
Russia’s Anna Blinkova didn’t make that easy.
NEXT: Madga Linette -53- (POL) vs [1] Naomi Osaka -01- (JPN)
[divider style=”solid” color=”#cccccc” opacity=”0.5″ icon=”fas fa-microphone” icon_color=”#666666″ icon_size=”23″ placement=”up”]
Round-1 Biography | [1] Naomi Osaka -01- (JPN)
She…is the defending US Open Champion. Last year – at just 20-years-old, ranked #19 in the World – she stunned the field here New York, defeating 6-time Champion Serena Williams to capture her first Major title. And it was a dominant two-weeks – losing only a single set in her seven match victories that led to the title. But she wasn’t done. After the win, she broke into the top-10, reached the WTA Finals for the first time, then started 2019 by earning her second Major at the Australian Open, and claiming the World #1 ranking. She now owns 3 Singles titles, is 2-for-2 in Grand Slam Finals, and this week marks her 24th week as the sport’s top-ranked player. From Japan, please welcome the defending US Open Champion and #1 Player in the World, Naomi Osaka.
▲ R1: def Anna Blinkova -84- (RUS) 64 76(5) 62
Round-1 Biography | Anna Blinkova -84- (RUS)
2-years-ago, as an 18-year-old Qualifier, she reached the main draw here in New York in her US Open debut. Earlier this year at Roland Garros, she upset World #22 Caroline Garcia to reach the 3rd-Round of a Grand Slam from the first time. But her biggest victories have come on the hard-courts in Doha — where in the past two years, she’s upset (two top-15 players) World #13 Kristina Mladenovic and World #12 Anastasija Sevastova to reach the Round of 16. She owns 3 ITF Women’s Circuit Singles titles and comes into this year’s US Open with a career-high ranking of World #84. Making her Arthur Ashe Stadium debut, from Russia – Please welcome Anna Blinkova.
Head to Head
This was the first meeting between these two players.
