Osaka battles past Siniakova to advance at US Open

NEW YORK — Naomi Osaka showed resilience under pressure on Thursday, dispatching Katerina Siniakova 6-2 5-7 6-1 to reach the third round of the US Open. The Japanese champion, who has won the tournament twice, demonstrated her capacity to recover from a series of unforced errors that threatened to derail her progress through the opening rounds.

Osaka dominated the first set with a commanding performance, breaking through Siniakova's defence to claim the opening six games with relative ease. However, the Czech player found her rhythm in the second set, forcing a competitive battle that saw the momentum swing in her favour as she forced a deciding third set.

The turning point came when Osaka regrouped and reasserted control in the final set. Her service game steadied, and her aggressive baseline play overwhelmed her opponent, allowing her to secure the match convincingly with a 6-1 victory in the decider.

The win extends Osaka's campaign in New York as she seeks to add another title to her growing collection of Grand Slam achievements. She will face a new opponent in the third round as the tournament continues its march toward the later stages.