Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka both lose in US Open first round
NEW YORK (AP) – The New York Times, as usual, has the right idea.
Emma Raducanu beat Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-4 in the opening game of the U.S. Open.
That was her first-round loss in the tournament since 2010, when she was a teenager and Osaka was two years older.
But Raducanu had a much more satisfying career than her most recent appearance on clay. She was part of the winning U.S. women’s team at the 2012 London Olympics, and won the U.S. Open in 2015.
“I don’t know how to describe it,” Raducanu said about the first-round loss. “I don’t think I played too well; I was a little bit upset. Naomi was serving well, she had a great first service game.”
She also has a history with Osaka, who became the first Japanese woman to reach a Grand Slam tournament final at age 15.
“I’ll probably never forget that match,” Osaka said. “I was so happy to finally beat her on a court I really love.”
Raducanu, a 22-year-old from New York, lost to top-seeded Garbine Muguruza of Spain 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
“I was struggling in the first set, I didn’t know what was going on,” Raducanu said. “It’s a pretty good first game. It was a pretty solid first serve from her.”
Like Raducanu, Osaka has not lost in the first round of the U.S. Open. She lost to former world No. 1 and top seed Serena Williams in the first round at Indian Wells in 2012.
That was another loss for Osaka, who has been a top player and reached No. 1 in the world rankings in both 2015 and 2016.
“I think this is a much better experience for me for my first Grand Slam tournament match since becoming the world No. 1,” Osaka said. “I always feel like I really had to work