Naomi Osaka suffers brutal five-year first in US Open debacle
Naomi Osaka has crashed to a five-year plateau after being knocked out of the US Open in the first round by compatriot Danielle Collins.
The two-time US Open champion went down in straight sets, 7-6, 6-3, despite leading both sets by a break against Collins who made the Australian Open final earlier in 2022.
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It will mean 2022 will be the first year since 2017 that Osaka hasn't finished the year with at least one grand slam win under her belt.
With triumphs at Flushing Meadows in 2018 and 2020, many expected Osaka to defy her world ranking of 44 to go on a deep run at her home grand slam.
Instead, Osaka encountered stiff opposition from Collins despite racing to a 0-3 lead in the first set.
Collins rallied to square the first set at 3-3 after a slow start before winning the tiebreak, repeating her comeback from a break down in the second.
On social media, while fans felt there was no shame in losing to a rising star in Collins, many were still surprised to see Osaka bounced out of the US Open so early.
For the first time since 2017, Naomi Osaka will finish a season without a Grand Slam title.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 31, 2022
Wishing best for Naomi Osaka. Just want her to be well first & I’m not sure how deeply that ties into & affects her on-court performance & results. Very likeable . But so vulnerable #USOpen2022
— Chris Boden (@BodenTweets) August 31, 2022
Tough loss for Naomi Osaka. Danielle Collins played a real good match
— Cameron Fields (@CameronFields_) August 31, 2022
American Danielle Collins outstanding in the opening round of the US Open with a late-night 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory over two-time US Open champ Naomi Osaka, unseeded this year
Collins, an Aussie Open finalist this year is back in fierce and fine form in a hardcourt major#getty pic.twitter.com/dl4w04Qwav— Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 (@christophclarey) August 31, 2022
Danielle Collins comes back from a break down in both sets and beats two times champ Naomi Osaka 7-6(5), 6-3 to reach the 2nd round of the #USOpen.
4th consecutive loss for Osaka, who played better than in recent tournaments but just constantly over-hit in big points.— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 31, 2022
Danielle Collins defeats Naomi Osaka 7-6 (5), 6-3 to advance to the second round of the #USOpen.
It is Collins' first win over Osaka in her career.
What a match.— Lukas Weese (@Weesesports) August 31, 2022
Such big hitting in this insane Naomi Osaka - Danielle Collins match which I still can't believe is a first round match. #USOpen
— Aishwarya Kumar (@kumaraishwarya) August 31, 2022
I think the worst thing that happened to Naomi Osaka was her upset over Serena. She was skyrocketed into a expectation that she wasn’t ready to live up to and now she seems to be in a funk she can’t shake. It’s unfortunate to see https://t.co/bpfDok6mAb
— Su’a (@iammsuzy) August 31, 2022
Despite losing, Naomi Osaka still made time for the fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
She signed autographs and gave one lucky fan her towel.
Class and champion personified. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Oc4NmfJVHJ— Lukas Weese (@Weesesports) August 31, 2022
Osaka split with longtime coach Wim Fissette back in July, with her former coach wishing her well as the pair parted ways.
“It has been a privilege to coach Naomi since 2019 and see her grow into the champion she has become,” he wrote.
“She has inspired a whole new generation to fall in love with the game & to speak up for what they believe in and it’s been incredible to play a part in that journey.
“Thank you Naomi Osaka. I wish you all the best and looking forward to my next chapter.”
Champions tumble in US Open women's draw
Defending champion Emma Raducanu, Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and seven-time grand slam winner Venus Williams have all crashed out of the US Open women's field in the first round.
The first qualifier ever to win a grand slam title last year, 19-year-old Raducanu was beaten 6-3 6-3 by French veteran Alize Cornet in Louis Armstrong Stadium on Tuesday night.
She became only the third woman to lose her opening match in New York a year after winning the title - joining 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova and 2016 champion Angelique Kerber.
She was bothered by hand blisters but simply outplayed by 32-year-old Cornet, who had ended world No.1 Iga Swiatek's 37-match winning streak at Wimbledon.
"Obviously really disappointing. Really sad to leave here. It's probably my favourite tournament," said Raducanu.
"But also, I mean, in a way, (I'm) happy, because it's a clean slate. I'm going to drop down the rankings, climb my way back up."
Rybakina was upset 6-4 6-4 by French qualifier Clara Burel, who is ranked 131st in the world.
Rybakina was seeded only 25th, with her victory at Wimbledon not boosting her in the rankings because no points were awarded at the All England club this year after Russian and Belarusian players were barred from competing because of the war against Ukraine.
Rybakina, who was born in Russia but represents Kazakhstan, said before this tournament she thought that was unfair, adding she didn't even feel like a Wimbledon champion.
The welcome and support for Venus Williams at Arthur Ashe Stadium was not the same as they were for her sister, Serena, a night earlier. Nor was the result.
She lost 6-1 7-6 (7-5) to unseeded Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck.
Venus, who turned 42 in June, has not made any pronouncements about her future in tennis, unlike her younger sibling, and while she has been successful and influential, too, the fanfare and attention are not the same.
Playing in front of thousands of empty blue seats, Venus bowed out in the first round of the US Open for the second consecutive appearance, losing in straight sets.
With AAP
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