Naomi Osaka: “I Just Told Myself Not to Have Any Regrets” — Two-Time Champion Survives Testing US Open Opener in Style
Making her signature fashion statement before even hitting a ball inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka kicked off her 2026 Flushing Meadows campaign with a hard-fought 7-6(6), 7-6(3) victory over world No. 101 Anastasia Zakharova on Monday night.
The 13th-seeded Japanese star stepped onto center court in a distressed, sleeveless hoodie draped over a white lace skirt, shedding the outer layer to reveal a top styled like a basketball jersey. But once the match began, Osaka had to pull out all her competitive fire to stave off an inspired push from her 24-year-old opponent.
“I just told myself not to have any regrets,” Osaka said on court after the two-hour, two-minute battle. “I just really wanted to come out here and compete. I haven’t played since Toronto and I was a little rusty. And I get nervous in the first round of this tournament… just really grateful to play on this court again.”
Navigating Fluctuating Momentum in Ashe Stadium
Osaka looked poised for a swift evening after opening up a 5-2 lead in the first set. However, Zakharova mounted a fierce comeback, winning three straight games and breaking Osaka twice to earn a chance to serve for the opening set at 6-5.
Displaying her trademark big-stage poise, the former World No. 1 broke back immediately to force a tiebreaker, where she saved two set points before closing out the set 8-6 on her third opportunity.
The second set featured a similar roller-coaster dynamic. Osaka surged ahead with double breaks, only for Zakharova to save match points and claw back from 5-3 down. Nevertheless, Osaka locked in during the tiebreaker, using her heavy serve and aggressive baseline play to seal the victory.
“It took everything,” Osaka admitted regarding the physical test. “I will see you in the next round. I want to show you guys some more outfits.”
Continuing a Stellar 2026 Renaissance
The opening-round victory underscores a remarkable season of consistency for Osaka. Having returned to the WTA Tour following the birth of her daughter, Shai, Osaka has brought enhanced movement and defensive court coverage to complement her traditional baseline power.
Her 2026 campaign has already featured a quarterfinal run at Roland Garros, a maiden grass-court final in Bad Homburg, and a quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon that included a marquee victory over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
With Monday’s win, Osaka pushed her Grand Slam match record to 10-2 on the year—reaching double-digit major wins in a single season for the first time since 2019.
Osaka, a semifinalist in Flushing Meadows last summer, advances to face Kateryna Siniakova in the second round, against whom she holds a 2-1 head-to-head record.
