U.S. Open: Djokovic extends winning streak, Osaka advances in three-set win
Updated 15:57, 01-Sep-2020
CGTN

The 2020 U.S. Open kicked off on Monday in eerily quiet settings as the tournament was being held without audiences due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Despite the empty stands, the Day One of the tournament went as expected as top players made to the second round. 

After a left hamstring injury forced her to withdraw from the Western & Southern Open final against Victoria Azarenka, Japan's Naomi Osaka pulled off a solid performance to beat compatriot Misaki Doi 6-2 5-7 6-2 in her opener at Flushing Meadows.

The 22-year-old walked out to the court wearing a mask featuring the name of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman killed by police officers who burst into her apartment in March.

"Actually, so I have seven (masks)," said Osaka.

"It's quite sad that seven masks aren't enough for all the names. Hopefully I'll get to the final so you can see all of them."

Back to the match, Osaka's struggle with her serve and Doi's aggressive play helped the latter level the match after the second set. 

"It was very difficult and I kind of expected it because first-round nerves and also she's a tough opponent so I knew there was a chance it would get really long," Osaka said in a courtside interview.

Osaka put together her normal service in the decider as she broke her Fed Cup teammate early before sealing the win with a second break.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a volley during his men's singles first round match against Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2020 U.S. Open in New York, August 31, 2020. /VCG

Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a volley during his men's singles first round match against Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2020 U.S. Open in New York, August 31, 2020. /VCG

Novak Djokovic extended his winning streak to an extraordinary 24-0 for the 2020 season after he defeated Damir Dzumhur on Monday earlier for a first-round victory. 

The Serbian lost his way a bit in the second set but rallied for a straightforward win at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, off to a good start for his fourth U.S. Open crown. 

"I know pressure is a privilege, pressure is part of what we do," Djokovic said in a news conference.

"I try to embrace it. I know what I need to do and how to behave, how to make myself calm and composed and focused on what really needs to be done."

Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic returns a shot during her women's singles first round match against Anhelina Kalinina of the Ukraine at the 2020 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, August 31, 2020. /VCG

Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic returns a shot during her women's singles first round match against Anhelina Kalinina of the Ukraine at the 2020 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, August 31, 2020. /VCG

Earlier, women's first seed Karolina Pliskova got a roaring start to her bid for a maiden Grand Slam title, downing first-round opponent Anhelina Kalinina 6-4 6-0 to kick off the action at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 28-year-old Czech, who led the WTA in aces in four of the last five years, struggled with an uncharacteristically uneven serve in the first set, committing three double faults and getting only slightly more than half of her first serves in to give her unseeded opponent a fighting chance.

"I started not really great with the first game but after I was able to somehow, you know, like step in the court, was playing quite aggressive," she said.

Pliskova, the 2016 U.S. Open runner-up, did indeed find her footing in the second set, winning all her first-serve points and committing just one unforced error, as her Ukrainian opponent was left scrambling.

"I think my game was quite good for a first round," said Pliskova as she next faces unseeded Caroline Garcia of France.

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece returns the ball during his men's singles first round match against Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain at the 2020 U.S. Open in New York, August 31, 2020. /VCG

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece returns the ball during his men's singles first round match against Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain at the 2020 U.S. Open in New York, August 31, 2020. /VCG

Among the men's seeds, both Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and German fifth seed Alexander Zverev progressed into the second round, with the latter tumbling a bit along the way.

Tsitsipas kicked off his quest for a maiden Grand Slam title in style as he overwhelmed Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-2 6-1 6-1 during the 98-minute match to reach the second round.

"I had a clear picture of what I was doing, where I was pressing. The depth on my ball was good," said Tsitsipas, whose best Grand Slam result to date came at the 2019 Australian Open where he reached the semi-finals.

A Black Lives Matter banner is shown in the foreground as Naomi Osaka of Japan serves during her women's singles first round match against Misaki Doi of Japan at the 2020 U.S. Open at quiet USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, August 31, 2020. /VCG

A Black Lives Matter banner is shown in the foreground as Naomi Osaka of Japan serves during her women's singles first round match against Misaki Doi of Japan at the 2020 U.S. Open at quiet USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, August 31, 2020. /VCG

Tsitsipas, who has never been beyond the second round of the U.S. Open, came into this week with 16 wins to his name this season and has been tipped by many to make a deep run in a tournament missing a number of top players.

Meanwhile, Germany's Alexander Zverev survived a tricky first-round test to beat 2017 finalist Kevin Anderson 7-6(2) 5-7 6-3 7-5 in the U.S. Open on Monday.

"Kevin is not somebody you usually play in the first round," the 23-year-old Zverev said. "I'm extremely happy to get through."

The result gave Zverev a much-needed confidence boost as he bids to improve on his maiden Grand Slam semi-final appearance in Melbourne earlier this year.

(Cover: Naomi Osaka of Japan serves during her women's singles first round match against compatriot Misaki Doi at the 2020 U.S. Open in New York, August 31, 2020. /VCG)

(With input from agencies)

Source(s): Reuters