In blink of an eye, defending champ Osaka finds form to survive opener

NEW YORK—Anna Blinkova did her very best to cause the biggest upset of the US Open on Tuesday, when she took on defending champion Naomi Osaka. After testing the world No. 1 in the first set, and snagging the second with a late rally, Osaka found herself in a decider inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, with all the pressure the scenario engenders.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous in my life,” Osaka said. “I don’t think I ever really found my rhythm, but I just fought as hard as I can.”

Osaka, raised her game to survive a 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2 battle, has now won 15 straight hard-court major matches. The top seed needs to win the title—with other results falling in her favor—to leave New York as the No. 1.

But despite the early-round scare, Osaka looked every bit the part of WTA's leader in her unique Sacai x Nike outfit taking center stage, along with her world-class serve and groundstrokes.

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While Osaka’s fame keeps rising, few are as familiar with the 84th-ranked Blinkova. But like Osaka last year, she's left quite an impression in New York City, having reaching her first WTA quarterfinal at last week's Bronx Open.

After spending most of April, May and June on the ITF tour, the 20-year-old Russian lost in two tiebreak sets to eventual champion Magda Linette in Bronx Open qualifying. Admitted into the main draw as a lucky loser, she scored wins over CoCo Vandweghe and Mihaela Buzarenscu, and even won the first set 6-0 over world No. 18 Wang Qiang before falling in three.

“I just wanted to concentrate on my tennis and to play my game and not to think about who I’m playing against,” Blinkova said in the Bronx after her 6-3, 6-0 win over former No. 10 Vandeweghe.

Such focus was on display on Tuesday, as Blink she was unfazed by the grand occasion, mammoth stage, celebrated opponent and giant disparity in experience. She produced her best tennis—the kind that served her so well last week.

“They improve my confidence,” Blinkova said matter-of-factly, of all her extra match play leading into the US Open.

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Blinkova has a solid baseline game with penetrating shots from both wings and a mental toughness beyond her years—she never, ever, ever gives up. It’s a deeply ingrained, admirable quality she shares with Maria Sharapova and Sofia Kenin, among others. And Blinkova almost never misses: across 2 hours and 28 minutes, she hit 22 unforced errors to Osaka’s 50. Those numbers, combined with her unruffled, intense temperament, make her a tricky first-round opponent.

Of course, Osaka knows plenty about solid groundstrokes and mental strength herself. The 21-year-old didn’t let the lost second set—in which she had a match point—careen her off the rails. Instead, she taught Blinkova a lesson in finishing power, hitting 44 winners to Blinkova’s 15. By the time most fans were still processing Osaka's second-set stumble, she was up a break in the third, and never looked back.

Blinkova has recently had a taste of Grand Slam success, reaching the third round of Roland Garros as a qualifier. Her draw in New York gave her little chance to make another splash. Instead, Osaka will face an even more confident opponent, Bronx Open champion Linette, in the second round.

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