NAOMI OSAKA VS ANNA BLINKOVA LIVE
FIRST SET (*denotes server)
OSAKA 1-4 BLINKOVA*
Brilliant backhand winner from Osaka, 15-30. Osaka gets into a nice position but puts a forehand into the tramlines again then goes long, 40-30.
Plenty of encouragement from the crowd from Osaka. But it is not enough as she nets a forehand.
*OSAKA 1-3 BLINKOVA
Osaka finally gets on the board as she holds to 15.
OSAKA 0-3 BLINKOVA*
Osaka forehand return into the net, 40-0.
Osaka hits back with a forehand winner, 40-15. Double fault from Blinkova 40-30. Blinkova holds to consolidate the break.
*OSAKA 0-2 BLINKOVA
Backhand from Osaka drifts wide, 15-all. Blinkova attacks Osaka’s serve with the return and draws the error, 15-30. Osaka puts a backhand into the tramlines, two break points.
And Blinkova breaks after a tame backhand into the net from Osaka. Concerning start from the world No 1/
OSAKA 0-1 BLINKOVA*
Good speed from Osaka to chase down a short ball and put away a forehand down the line, 30-15.
Osaka nets a forehand, 40-30. Blinkova goes wide with a backhand, deuce.
Blinkova holds.
17:05: Osaka and Blinkova walk on to Arthur Ashe. There’s a black knee brace on Osaka’s left knee.
16:45: Osaka comes into the match with some doubts over her health after retiring from her last match in Cincinnati with a knee injury.
She has been training with strapping on her knee during practise this week.
16:30: Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Naomi Osaka’s first-round clash against Anna Blinkova at the US Open
NAOMI OSAKA VS ANNA BLINKOVA PREVIEW
Naomi Osaka backed up her win in New York by then winning the Australian Open in January.
Speaking in her pre-tournament press conference, Osaka was asked about having to defend her title and the Japanese star insisted she’s comfortable with the pressure.
She said: “I think going to Indian Wells and kind of learning how defending champion pressure feels, I think it definitely helped me out going into this tournament.
“Because I just feel more loose and comfortable here. I’m not sure if it’s because the last couple of months have been kind of turbulent, but definitely I feel really comfortable and I know that, despite everything, I play well here every year. So I’m not too worried about that.”