US Open 2021: Defending champion Naomi Osaka of Japan started her campaign with a resounding victory in the first round of the US Open. Osaka defeated 87th ranked Czech Republic player Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-1 in straight sets. Apart from this, Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep, Garbine Muguruza, Victoria Azarenka, and 17-year-old American player Coco Gauff have also managed to reach the second round in women's singles. In men's matches, third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece faced a tough fight against Andy Murray.
After winning this match played at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the presence of spectators, Osaka said, "It is good to play in front of the audience once again. I feel great here. I am glad that I was able to win this match." Osaka will now face Serbia's qualifier Olga Danilovich in the second round.
Tsitsipas faced a tough fight against Murray
The third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas had to battle hard to win against former world number one and 2012 US Open champion Andy Murray of Britain. The match lasted 4 hours and 49 minutes with Tsitsipas eventually defeating Murray 2-6, 7-6 (9/7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Second seed Daniil Medvedev also won his match easily in the tournament. He defeated Richard Gasquet in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, 6-1. Fifth seed Andrey Rublev also made it to the next round. He defeated Ivo Karlovic in the first-round match 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.
However, the 2014 champion Marin Cilic is out of the tournament. He withdrew from the match in the fifth set due to injury against Philipp Kohlschreiber. The only player left in the men's draw after the first day's play is world number one Novak Djokovic, who has won numerous Grand Slam titles. Djokovic has come to complete this year's Grand Slam calendar. Djokovic is also eyeing to break the record of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal of 20 Grand Slam titles.