Osaka, seeking her third US Open crown in four years,
defeated 87th-ranked Czech Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-1 at a packed Arthur Ashe
Stadium to book a second-round matchup with Serbian qualifier Olga Danilovic.
“It feels kind of crazy to play in front of everyone again,”
Osaka said. “I feel really comfortable here. I’m just glad I won.”
Osaka beat Bouzkova in their only prior meeting in the first
round of this year’s Australian Open on the way to her fourth Grand Slam title.
The 23-year-old Japanese star could become the first
back-to-back US Open women’s champion since Serena Williams, out this year with
a torn hamstring, won her third in a row in 2014.
Osaka’s major win streak includes her most recent US and
Australian Open wins and a first-round win at this year’s French Open before
withdrawing over mental health issues.
Osaka, who lit the cauldron at the Tokyo Olympics, gave an
Olympic pin to a young girl in the same venue where she won last year’s title
when fans were banned due to Covid-19.
“It felt quite lonely for me,” she said. “So I’m quite glad
to see little kids in the audience and grown ups too. The energy here is
unmatched.”
Osaka broke Bouzkova in the 10th game of the first set when
the Czech netted a backhand, the broke for a 2-0 lead in the second set on the
way to victory in 93 minutes.
Tsitsipas outlasted Britain’s Murray, a three-time Grand
Slam champion, by 2-6, 7-6 (9/7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 after four hours and 49 minutes
in surroundings more like an intense second-week showdown than a curtain-raiser
for the fortnight.
“To have an electric atmosphere out here is something we’ve
been waiting for,” Tsitsipas said.
Two-time Olympic champion Murray, ranked 112th lost for the
first time in 15 first-round US Open matches.
“It didn’t come easy,” Tsitsipas said.
Tsitsipas, this year’s French Open runner-up, took a long
break before the final set, frustrating Murray, who surrendered a break in the
opening game. Delay tactics brought a frosty reception at the net after the
match.
“I have zero time for that stuff at all and I lost respect
for him,” Murray said. “It’s nonsense. And he knows it, as well.”
Tsitsipas, who plays Frenchman Adrian Mannarino next, said
he followed ATP rules on breaks and medical timeouts, even as Murray questioned
the length and timing.
“I’m playing by the rules and sticking to what the ATP says
is fair,” said Tsitsipas. “Then the rest is fine.”
In the second-set tie-breaker, Murray slipped at the net and
fell because his sweat-soaked shoes were wet and he didn’t have another pair.
Murray missed out on two set points and the 23-year-old Greek star won five of
the next six points to grab the set and level the match.
“The shoes got so wet that at the end of the set, I was
slipping basically and was losing balance,” Murray said. “That was my bad. It
was an important moment in the match.”
Murray broke in the second game of the third set and held
out from there, but Tsitsipas took the last two sets to advance.
Crowd energy returns
Spectators had to show proof of vaccination to attend but they
brouht energy back to Ashe.
“Playing without fans here was brutal,” 2017 US Open winner
Sloane Stephens said. “Having these fans out and the energy, the atmosphere, it
brings a lot back to tennis.”
Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep and Stephens each
won to reach the second round.
“You feel the energy. You feel alive on court,” Halep said.
“Hopefully it will stay like that forever.”
Russian second seed Daniil Medvedev defeated Frenchman
Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 for his 200th career match win and 160th win on
hardcourts.
Women’s second seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus outlasted
Serbia’s Nina Stojanovic 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-0 while Russian men’s fifth seed
Andrey Rublev ousted 221st-ranked Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.
AFP