US Open 2022: Naomi Osaka loses to Danielle Collins in the first round.© AFP
Naomi Osaka’s hopes of winning a third US Open title were dashed in the first round on Tuesday as the Japanese star faltered in a back-to-back loss to Danielle Collins. Four-time Grand Slam champion, Osaka, winner of Flushing Meadows in 2018 and 2020, was defeated 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 by American 19th seed Collins in a battle between two great tennis players. Collins, this year’s Australian Open finalist, has now advanced to a second round match against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa. The 28-year-old right-winger from Florida will confidently step into that task after displaying great composure to take Osaka off the field at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Former world number one Osaka, whose ranking has dropped to 44 after an unstable year, got off to a good start with an early 3-0 lead.
But Collins fought back into the match and got the first set after winning a tough tie-break.
With both players making some explosive ground hits, the second set was a question of who would flash first.
Collins put himself on the verge of victory after conceding Osaka to take a 5-3 lead in game eight.
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Osaka, 24, achieved the touchdown by winning the service break needed to keep the game going after taking a 15-40 lead in the ninth game.
But Collins rallied back to take down and then won her first match as Osaka hit a long comeback.
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