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'Shame': Naomi Osaka's US Open moment with moth ends in disaster

Andrew Reid
·4-min read
Pictured here, Naomi Osaka's first round match was interrupted by a moth at the US Open.
Naomi Osaka's first round match was briefly interrupted by a moth at the US Open. Pic: Getty/US Open Tennis

Naomi Osaka has begun her US Open campaign with a 6-4 6-1 win over Czech Marie Bouzkova to cruise into the second round at Flushing Meadows.

However, it was a bizarre mid-match moment with a pesky bug that grabbed the attention of viewers at one stage in the second set.

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After edging a hard-fought opening stanza 6-4, Osaka was waiting to return Bouzkova's serve at 1-0 up in the second.

Play was momentarily halted when a moth began flapping around near the baseline where Osaka was standing.

The 23-year-old is no stranger to moments with insects during her matches after finding herself at the centre of a beautiful moment with a butterfly at this year's Australian Open.

Seen here, Naomi Osaka with a butterfly on her face at the 2021 Australian Open.
Naomi Osaka's butterfly friend left tennis fans captivated at the Australian Open in February. Pic: Getty

While that encounter back in February was largely positive for Osaka and the butterfly, the same couldn't be said about her latest moment in New York.

Osaka tried to delicately pick up the moth with her racquet before watching it fly off towards a ball girl up that end of the court.

The young girl had several unsuccessful attempts to scoop up the moth in hands and usher it off court, before shocking onlookers by stomping on it with her shoe.

The camera flashed back to Osaka whose face conveyed an element of shock and sadness at the insect's untimely demise.

Viewers were also quick to pay their respects on social media, after the moth briefly stole the show.

Naomi Osaka storms home in 1st round win

Osaka, who wore a New York Liberty "Equality" jersey during her pregame warmup, wasn't at her tip top best after playing very little over the last few months.

But as the match wore on she looked more and more like herself. Her footwork got quicker, her serve got better, and her forehand looked fantastic.

Coming into this match, Bouzkova had lost in the first round of the nine main draws she'd been in, but didn't play like it against the World No.3.

The Czech was daring, standing close to the baseline and taking the full brunt of Osaka's tremendous first serve.

She elevated her game to face the two-time champion, and stayed with her throughout the first set.

Then Osaka's game began to really come together. She got the first break point of the night on the point that won her the first set.

Pictured here, Naomi Osaka pumps her first during a first round win at the US Open.
Naomi Osaka cruised to a solid first round win at the US Open. Pic: Getty (Sarah Stier via Getty Images)

After a first set battle, Osaka began to get even more confident while Bouzkova started struggling.

Osaka had set a blistering pace, whipping the ball across the court, with her firepower gradually wearing Bouzkova down.

Osaka managed to win seven games in a row, spanning the end of the first set and most of the second, before Bouzkova was able to break through and win a game.

Osaka was dominating, but she opened the door just enough for Bouzkova to sneak through and avoid the dreaded bagel in the second set.

It merely delayed the inevitable though as Osaka - with the crowd fully behind her - served out for the win in 93 minutes to book her spot in the second round.

with Yahoo Sport US

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