Naomi Osaka defeated Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 in the US Open second round, reaching the third round for the eighth time in 10 appearances and setting up a 10th career meeting with No. 20 seed Elise Mertens.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka advanced to the third round of the US Open after overcoming Katerina Siniakova in a three-set second-round battle on Thursday, continuing her impressive progress across the Grand Slam season.
Osaka, a two-time US Open champion who lifted the trophy in 2018 and 2020, defeated Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 in two hours and two minutes. The Japanese star produced a dominant performance in the deciding set after allowing a strong position in the second set to slip away.
The 28-year-old entered the match wearing a new daytime outfit, following the attention-grabbing ensemble she wore during her first-round victory. Her latest kit featured a white collared outer layer decorated with beaded tennis racquets and a long mesh train that moved behind her as she walked onto the court.
On court, however, Osaka again had to deal with pressure and momentum swings. She had required two tiebreaks to defeat No. 101-ranked Anastasia Zakharova in the opening round and acknowledged afterward that she had been extremely nervous during the contest.
Against Siniakova, Osaka initially looked much more comfortable. She did not face a break point during her first seven service games and established control by taking the opening set 6-2.
The second set appeared to be heading in Osaka’s favour when she moved into a 5-3 lead. Siniakova, however, fought back strongly, winning the next four games to turn the set around and force a decider.
Osaka responded emphatically in the third set. She regained her composure, raised the intensity of her tennis and raced to a 6-1 finish, securing her place in the last 32 at Flushing Meadows.
The victory marks the eighth time in 10 US Open main-draw appearances that Osaka has reached the third round. It also continues a notable Grand Slam season for the former world No. 1.
Osaka previously reached the third round at the Australian Open before recording a career-best fourth-round appearance at Roland Garros and reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. By progressing to the third round in New York, she has now reached that stage at all four Grand Slam tournaments in the same season for only the second time in her career, matching her achievement from 2018.
Osaka will next meet No. 20 seed Elise Mertens in the third round. The matchup will be their 10th career meeting, with their rivalry dating back to 2017.
Mertens booked her place in the third round by defeating Uzbekistan’s Maria Timofeeva 6-3, 7-6(5). The Belgian also had to recover after surrendering a 5-3 advantage in the second-set tiebreak, eventually winning the final four points to close out the match.
A two-time US Open quarterfinalist, Mertens reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the 29th time in 39 major main-draw appearances.
Osaka holds the advantage in their head-to-head record, leading 6-3. She also leads 4-3 on outdoor hard courts and has won both of their meetings in 2026.
| Also Read: Anahat Singh reaches London Squash Classic quarterfinals after defeating Nele Gilis |
The Japanese star has been particularly convincing in those recent encounters, dropping only nine games across their two matches this year. She defeated Mertens 6-3, 6-3 in the second round at Bad Homburg before recording a 6-1, 6-2 victory in the third round in Toronto.
With confidence growing after another hard-fought US Open victory, Osaka will now look to extend her strong record against Mertens and move into the fourth round in New York.
