Queens, NY — Naomi Osaka began her 2026 US Open campaign with a hard-fought straight-set victory Monday night, defeating Anastasia Zakharova 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The No. 13 seed and two-time US Open champion needed more than two hours to get past the 101st-ranked Zakharova, who repeatedly challenged Osaka and refused to let either set get away without a fight.
For Osaka, the victory was about more than simply advancing. It marked her return to Arthur Ashe Stadium and her first match since competing in Toronto.
“I just told myself not to have any regrets,” Osaka said. “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.”
Osaka entered the tournament with plenty of momentum following a strong stretch on the hard courts, but Monday’s performance was anything but routine.
Osaka Survives First-Set Roller Coaster
Osaka appeared to be in control early, building a 5-2 advantage in the opening set. Zakharova, however, refused to fold.
The aggressive Russian battled back, earning three break opportunities late in the set and converting the final one to pull within 5-4. She then held serve to level the set at 5-all before breaking Osaka again to put herself in position to serve for the set.
Osaka immediately answered by breaking back.
The opening-set tiebreak became another test of Osaka’s composure. Zakharova fought off two set points, but Osaka eventually prevailed 8-6 after needing three opportunities to close it out.
The Japanese star finished the match with 20 winners compared with 13 for Zakharova and committed four fewer unforced errors, 30 to 34.
Zakharova Keeps Fighting
Osaka looked more settled early in the second set and began using her powerful serve and heavy groundstrokes to dictate the exchanges.
She broke Zakharova in the third game and again in the fifth, the latter coming after Osaka had fallen behind 0-40.
Another break appeared to put Osaka comfortably in command.
But Zakharova wasn’t finished.
Down 5-3, she continued to chase down balls and extend rallies, forcing Osaka to work for every opportunity to finish the match.
“It took everything,” Osaka said.
Eventually, Osaka once again found her best tennis when she needed it most. She took control of the second-set tiebreak and closed out the match 7-3.
Power, Movement and Confidence
Osaka’s biggest weapons remain familiar: a dangerous serve, explosive groundstrokes and the ability to turn defense into offense with one swing.
But her movement has become an increasingly important part of her game since returning to competition following her extended hiatus after the birth of her daughter.
That improvement was evident Monday.
Zakharova also displayed impressive athleticism throughout the match, repeatedly tracking down shots and extending points that appeared to be over.
Still, Osaka’s combination of power and court coverage ultimately proved too much.
The four-time Grand Slam finalist has quietly assembled one of her more encouraging stretches of tennis in recent years.
She has won five of her last seven matches on hard courts, reached the semifinals in Washington, D.C., and advanced to the quarterfinals in Toronto. Earlier in the summer, she reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals and produced one of the biggest wins of her comeback by defeating then-No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round.
She also reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.
Osaka’s 2026 Grand Slam record now stands at 10-2, marking the first time she has reached double-digit Grand Slam match victories in a season since 2019.
More Than Tennis
Osaka also brought plenty of personality to her return to Ashe.
Known for expressing herself through fashion, she arrived wearing a distressed sleeveless hoodie over a white lace skirt before revealing a competitive outfit featuring a top reminiscent of a basketball jersey.
“I love expressing myself through my clothes,” Osaka has said.
After securing her place in the second round, Osaka had one more message for the New York crowd.
“I will see you in the next round,” Osaka said. “I want to show you guys some more outfits.”
Siniakova Awaits
Osaka’s next opponent will be Katerina Siniakova.
The matchup favors Osaka historically, as she owns a 2-1 record against Siniakova.
For Osaka, the goal now is to build on Monday’s victory. The performance wasn’t flawless, but she showed the resilience that has become increasingly important during her return to the top levels of the sport.
She survived a pair of tight tiebreaks, handled Zakharova’s repeated comebacks and ultimately found another gear when the match demanded it.
The result sends Osaka into the second round—and provides another indication that the former champion may once again be finding her best tennis on the biggest stage.
MATCH POINT
The loss also ended Zakharova’s perfect record against Japanese opponents.
She entered Monday night’s match 2-0 against Japanese players, having defeated Moyuka Uchijima in Dubai and Ena Shibahara in Jiujiang in 2025.
Osaka, meanwhile, continues to occupy a special place in Japanese tennis history. When she won the US Open in 2018, she became the first Japanese player to capture a Grand Slam singles championship.
Seven years later, she is back at Arthur Ashe Stadium with another opportunity to add to that legacy.
