U.S. Open: Kerber's Title Defense Ends at the Hands of Osaka Again
Angelique Kerber, the defending U.S. Open champion and former world number one, met her match in the first round against Naomi Osaka.
Kerber's impressive victory in 2016 and subsequent rise to the top of the tennis world was short-lived. After claiming the U.S. Open and holds the title of world number one, Kerber suffered an early exit from last year's tournament and was defeated by the 19-year-old Japanese star, Naomi Osaka, in straight sets on Tuesday afternoon.
Osaka's ranking had dropped to 45th, but her formidable performance demonstrated that she is a force to be reckoned with. This was the first professional encounter between Osaka and Kerber, and it was clear from the outset that Osaka was the one in control.
On Tuesday, Osaka displayed 22 winners, only 17 unforced errors, and managed to save all four break points. It was the second time that the current U.S. Open champion had fallen in the opening round of the following year. The first time was Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2005.
Following her victory, a humble Osaka spoke to ESPN, commenting: "I really have to concentrate on playing because she's really good, and she can do anything."
In the last year, Kerber has failed to reclaim her former glory and has not won any titles since her triumph in New York 2016. The sixth-seeded German is the youngest top-seeded player to lose in the opening round this week. Simona Halep, ranked number two, also suffered an early exit on Monday evening, falling to wildcard Maria Sharapova in an intense match, while Johanna Konta, seeded seventh, lost against Serbian Aleksandra Krunic.
Osaka's next challenge is in the second round against Denisa Aletova of the Czech Republic and Rebecca Peterson of Sweden. Last year, Osaka was eliminated in the third round by American Madison Keys.
"I played well today, and I hope I can carry this form into my next match," said Osaka.
Additional Insights
- In the 2018 US Open women's tennis tournament, Kerber's early exit and Osaka's win can be attributed to several factors:
- Kerber's struggle with injuries and form
- Osaka's dominant performance and mental resilience, which enabled her to overcome her challenging rival, Serena Williams, in the final
Angelique Kerber, the 2016 U.S. Open champion and former world number one, once again suffered an early exit from the tournament, her title defense coming to an end at the hands of Naomi Osaka in the first round.
In a repeat of last year's events, the current U.S. Open champion faced off against Angelique Kerber once more. On Tuesday, Osaka demonstrated her firepower and determination in earning a decisive straight-sets victory over the reigning champion.
With her strong performance and resilience, Osaka is already cementing her spot as a force to be reckoned with in the world of women's tennis. Her victory is likely to further bolster her confidence, as she prepares for the remainder of the tournament.
References:
