US Open: Naomi Osaka beats Marie Bouzkova in first round, Olga Danilovic next up

World No 3 beats Czech world No 87 in straight sets on grand slam return after pulling out of French Open and sitting out Wimbledon

Serbia’s Olga Danilovic awaits in the second round in New York as champion says it’s ‘kind of crazy’ to see fans back

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Naomi Osaka of Japan returns a shot to Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic during the first round of the US Open in New York. Photo: AP

Published: 10:39am, 31 Aug 2021Updated: 12:24pm, 31 Aug 2021

World No 3 Naomi Osaka started her US Open defence with a “comfortable” straight sets win over Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic in the first round.

In her first grand slam appearance since pulling out of the French Open in June and then sitting out Wimbledon over her mental health, the Japanese third seed won 6-4, 6-1 in New York.

Osaka, who has won only three matches since Paris, was knocked out in the first round of the Cincinnati warm-up by Swiss wild card Jil Teichmann in the run-up to the US Open but was back to form in her slam return. She had also been defeated at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The 23-year-old took a commanding 3-0 lead in the second set against the world No 87, appearing to step up a gear from the opening set before powering through to a 6-1 second set win.

Victory marked Osaka’s 15th hardcourt win in a row at a hardcourt grand slam including the last Australian Open and last year’s US Open.