Is Naomi Osaka playing in US Open 2024? All you need to know about Japanese icon's presence at Flushing Meadows
The US Open 2024 got underway on Monday, August 26, with most of the sport's leading names set to partake, including former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka. She was given a main draw wildcard into the tournament. This will be her eighth appearance in New York, and her first since 2022.
Osaka's results in the lead-up to the US Open have been underwhelming. She lost to Elise Mertens in the second round of the Canadian Open, and failed to advance beyond the qualifying stages of the Cincinnati Open. She will need to put her best foot forward right off the bat as she will face fellow Major champion Jelena Ostapenko in her opener on Tuesday (August 27).
While Ostapenko made the quarterfinals of the US Open last year, she's in shaky form as well these days. She fell to Taylor Townsend in the third round of the Canadian Open, and was knocked out by Elina Avanesyan in the first round of the Cincinnati Open. She and Osaka have faced off once prior to this, with the latter coming out on top at the French Open in 2016.
Osaka is a two-time US Open champion. She won her maiden Major title in New York with a win over Serena Williams in the final in 2018. She triumphed at the venue once again a couple of years later after she edged out Victoria Azarenka for the title. However, her path to her third title here is going to be her toughest yet.
Naomi Osaka to face one dangerous opponent after another at the US Open 2024
If Naomi Osaka wins her first-round duel against Jelena Ostapenko, then she could meet last year's semifinalist Karolina Muchova in the second round. A potential third-round date with Leylah Fernandez is on the cards after that, who ended her title defense here three years ago at the same stage.
Jasmine Paolini, the runner-up at the last two Majors, could possibly await Osaka in the fourth round. She could bump into World No. 4 Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals, and either Iga Swiatek or Jessica Pegula could be her semifinal opponents.
Aryna Sabalenka or Coco Gauff are likely to be Osaka's opponents in the championship round. Should the Japanese go through this murderer's row of opponents, then this would be one of the most memorable and impressive title runs in recent times.