A red-hot return: Naomi Osaka serves up style and a powerful first-round victory

Wednesday, 27 August 2025 at 02:43

Naomi Osaka returned to the court this Tuesday night at the US Open, defeating Belgian Greet Minnen 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 24 minutes. The four-time Grand Slam champion showed why she was the favorite as the 23rd seed and took home a debut victory, proving the high level she had been carrying after reaching the Canadian Open final.

The former world No. 1 has made it a habit to create a buzz with her outfits when she steps onto the court, especially at a Grand Slam. This time, just like in previous majors, she wore a bright red, floral look with a striking hairstyle to headline the night session at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The two-time US Open women's singles champion takes the court!

Naomi Osaka faces Greet Minnen in Armstrong. pic.twitter.com/OxZJDuIBfp
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2025

Osaka overcomes early resistance to take First Set

Both players started with strong service games, but in the third game, Osaka capitalized on her first opportunity to get the first break of the match. Minnen, however, quickly broke back to tie the score at 2-2. The four-time Grand Slam champion remained calm, as usual, and kept her composure despite Minnen's consistent resistance from the baseline.

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The Belgian player constantly used slices to prevent Osaka from hitting comfortably, but it didn't help much, as the Japanese star positioned herself well on the court to take the initiative in the points. This is how she took control of the game when she was down 2-3, winning the next four games in a row and taking advantage of the world No. 106's first-serve issues.

Osaka won 67% of her service points and 59% of her return points, being especially aggressive with her forehand. She hit 12 winners compared to her opponent's seven, and the unforced errors were more frequent on the European's side, with 14 compared to the Asian player's nine. Osaka won the first set 6-3 after 38 minutes, being relentless in capitalizing on all three of her break opportunities.

Osaka finds her momentum to seal second-round spot

The second set started with Osaka maintaining her confident form and taking the first two games without any issues. With a 2-0 lead for the former No. 1, Greet Minnen found a solution with her return, specifically by taking advantage of Osaka's second serves. She broke back in what was an erratic start to the second set for both players and tied again at 2-2.

Things weren't leaning for either player for the rest of the match. A scare came for the Japanese player around the middle of the set, after Minnen secured another break to go up 4-3 with the serve in her favor. Perhaps the hit was enough for Osaka to get a boost in the final part of the match, as she won 12 of the next 15 points and had two consecutive breaks, securing the 6-3, 6-4 victory and her spot in the second round.

Match Statistics Minnen vs. Osaka

Minnen	VS	Osaka
	Service
0	Aces	7
2	Double Faults	0
53% (28/53)	1st Service Percentage	60% (39/65)
50% (14/28)	1st Service Points Won	69% (27/39)
30% (8/27)	2nd Service Points Won	44% (12/27)
0% (0/6)	Break Points Saved	57% (4/7)
40% (4/10)	Service Games	67% (6/9)
	Return
31% (12/39)	1st Return Points Won	50% (14/28)
56% (15/27)	2nd Return Points Won	70% (19/27)
	Other
1h 21m	Match Duration	1h 21m

A tricky match-up awaits

Naomi Osaka entered the draw as the 23rd seed, marking her first time as a seeded player in a Grand Slam in three years. This came after a strong showing at the Canadian Open, where she finished as the runner-up and advanced significantly in the rankings to the top 25. This achievement allowed her to enter the US Open main draw with a less complicated path in the early rounds.

Her next opponent will be 23-year-old Hailey Baptiste (No. 47), who defeated Czech player Katerina Siniakova in her debut. This was Baptiste's first main-draw victory at the US Open and also the first time she directly entered the main draw, after falling in the qualifying rounds for the last three editions.

The two have faced each other twice before this season in tough battles on hard courts. Both matches, in the Auckland quarterfinals and the Miami Open third round, were three-set victories for Osaka. Now, she will face one of the local players who seems to have nothing to lose and is playing with great confidence. Baptiste is undoubtedly a tricky opponent for the second round.

Roses are red & victory is @naomiosaka's

She defeats Minnen in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/eUbVhDzmDF
— wta (@WTA) August 27, 2025

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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