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Agencies

Fourth seed Naomi Osaka advanced to the second round of the US Open on Monday but was made to work hard during a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Japanese compatriot Misaki Doi at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Osaka, who withdrew from the Western & Southern Open WTA final on Saturday due to a hamstring injury, showed little sign of a fitness problem after wrapping up the first set in just over half an hour.
But the 22-year-old 2018 Open champion’s composure deserted her in the second set, as a string of unforced errors crept into her game and allowed Doi to seize the initiative.
Doi raced into leads of 3-0 and 4-1 but tightened when serving for the set at 5-3 – allowing Osaka to break back and get back on serve.
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However the 29-year-old Doi regrouped to hold serve for a 6-5 lead and then punished a sloppy service game from Osaka to break once again and square the match.
Osaka raised her game noticeably in the third set, cutting down the errors and putting Doi under pressure on her service.

One down, six to go for @naomiosaka on her journey for another #USOpen pic.twitter.com/M3CgadJgwf
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2020

Two breaks helped Osaka into a 5-2 lead and she held serve to close out the win.
Osaka had walked onto court wearing a face mask emblazoned with the name of Breonna Taylor, the African-American nurse who was shot by police in her apartment in Kentucky in March.
WTA Finals axed as China cancels all tennis events over coronavirus concerns
Taylor’s death has become one of the most prominent cases during the summer of nationwide protests across the United States against racism and police brutality.
Osaka says she plans to wear face masks bearing the names of other victims of racial injustice throughout the tournament.
“I have seven and it’s quite sad that seven is not enough for the amount of names,” Osaka said.
“Hopefully I’ll get to the finals and you’ll see all of them.”
Elsewhere, there was a surprise result on day one as American teen sensation Coco Gauff was eliminated from the first round of a grand slam for the first time.
Gauff, whose run to the third round ignited last year’s tournament, bowed out 6-3 5-7 6-4 to Anastasija Sevastova at an empty Louis Armstrong Stadium on Monday.
Having reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in January and Wimbledon in her grand slam main draw debut last year, 16-year-old Gauff had never felt the pain of an early exit from the majors.

Adding weight to the disappointment was the long break between grand slams, with the Covid-19 pandemic having cancelled Wimbledon and postponed Roland Garros.
“I could have played better today,” Gauff told reporters.
“I just got on Tour a little over a year ago, so I still have a lot to learn and a long ways to go.”
The young American was far from her best against former semi-finalist Sevastova, who came into the match on a run of seven consecutive first-round defeats.
Gauff struck 13 double-faults and surrendered the error-strewn contest with a service break against 30-year-old Sevastova, the 31st seed in a women’s draw lacking about a quarter of the Tour’s top 100 players.
The lack of fans at the stadium was no issue for Gauff, who had said she would compete “just as hard” with or without them.
However, the long break from competition may not have helped, said Gauff, who lost her first match at the Western and Southern Open to Greek Maria Sakkari in the lead-up.
“The main part that hurt was just (not) getting matches under my belt, getting experience,” added Gauff.
“That’s what I need on Tour. I’m playing against people older than me who have been in more situations, difficult situations, than I have.
“I think the biggest thing is I just need experience.”
Reporting: Reuters, Agence-France-Presse


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US Open (tennis)

US Open: Osaka made to work in win over Doi, as grand slam bubble bursts for US teen Gauff

Naomi Osaka progressed to round two of the US Open with a three-set victory against compatriot Misaki Doi. Photo: EPA

Delray Beach's Coco Gauff returns to University of Miami's Estela Perez-Somarriba during their women's exhibition tennis match of the Delray Beach Open at the Delray Beach Stadium and Tennis Center.

Novak Djokovic in action on day one at US Open bubble in New York

Novak Djokovic of Serbia is set to seek another grand slam title at the US Open this year during Covid-19. Photo: AFP

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 29: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates a point against Milos Raonic of Canada in the men's singles final of the Western & Southern Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 29: Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot to Milos Raonic of Canada in the men's singles final of the Western & Southern Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Andy Murray wins first match in nine months as men’s tennis returns

Andy Murray defeated Frances Tiafoe in his first game back after nine months at the Western & Southern Open in New York City. Photo: AFP

epa08619163 Andy Murray of Great Britain (L) fist bumps Frances Tiafoe of the US after defeating him during their first round match at the Western and Southern Open at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 22 August 2020. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the tournament was relocated to NYC to immediately precede the US Open and to be played without fans. EPA-EFE/JASON SZENES

Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka doubles down on support for Black Lives Matter after being told to ‘stay in her lane’

Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka. Photo: AP

handout

epa08471373 TECHNICAL REPEAT A woman wearing a face mask stands with a placard during a protest against the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed African American man killed by police in Minneapolis, in Osaka city, western Japan, 07 June 2020. Some 700 protesters attended the rally organized by supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement in Japan as it took place amid coronavirus pandemic despite of criticism that such a gathering would increase the risk of further spreading of the infection. A Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka, who was born in Osaka city, expressed her support for the protest on her Twitter account. EPA-EFE/DAI KUROKAWA TECHNICAL REPEAT

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Tennis


Naomi Osaka progressed to round two of the US Open with a three-set victory against compatriot Misaki Doi
Coco Gauff suffers earliest grand slam exit of her short career



Naomi Osaka progressed to round two of the US Open with a three-set victory against compatriot Misaki Doi, as Coco Gauff suffers earliest grand slam exit of her short career.


US Open: Osaka made to work in win over Doi, as grand slam bubble bursts for US teen Gauff

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Naomi Osaka progressed to round two of the US Open with a three-set victory against compatriot Misaki Doi Coco Gauff suffers earliest grand slam exit of her short career

Naomi Osaka progressed to round two of the US Open with a three-set victory against compatriot Misaki Doi

Coco Gauff suffers earliest grand slam exit of her short career