Three weeks on from one of the most disappointing evenings of her career in Montreal, where the positivity surrounding her progress was overshadowed by controversy, Naomi Osaka provided further evidence that she is on the right path as she reached the third round of the US Open with an efficient 6-3, 6-1 win over Hailey Baptiste of the United States.
Despite being the most recent female player to win multiple US Open titles, Osaka returned to New York this year in a curious position. Earlier this month, she won six matches en route to her first WTA 1000 final since giving birth to her daughter, Shai, and then returning from maternity leave in January 2024.
