Naomi Osaka made a triumphant return to the US Open on Tuesday securing an emotional victory over yena ostapenko in the opening round the former champion who is now ranked 88th in the world defeated the 2017 Roland garos winner 6 to3 6-2 marking her first top 10 win in four years this victory was particularly poignant for Osaka who had missed the previous year's tournament due to the birth of her daughter shid as Osaka stepped onto the courts of Flushing Meadows the memories of her previous successes and struggles seemed to flood back the four-time Grand Slam champion who had last played in New York in 2022 was determined to make a statement despite the pressure Osaka delivered a commanding performance firing 19 winners and wrapping up the match in just 63 minutes the win was not just a personal milestone for Osaka but also a powerful moment for her fans the crowd at the Louis Armstrong Stadium erupted an Applause as Osaka sealed the victory overwhelmed by the support the usually composed Osaka broke down in tears reflecting on the significance of her journey back to the sport she loves I so badly wanted to step on these courts again Osaka shared her voice filled with emotion I didn't know if I could just to win this match just to be in this atmosphere means so much to me the victory was a testament to her resilience and determination as she overcame not only a tough opponent but also the doubts and challenges that had plagued her recent career D Osaka's path to this moment has been anything but easy after giving birth to her daughter she faced the daunting task of returning to top level tennis her last appearance at the US Open ended in a shock first round exit in 2022 and since then she had struggled to regain her former form but against ostapenko who had defeated world number one IG swch at the US Open just a year earlier Osaka found her Rhythm showcasing the talent that made her a two-time champion at this tournament reflecting on her win Osaka acknowledged the difficulty she faced during the match it was stressful she was hitting some really good shots Osaka admitted I just told myself keep going keep fighting for every point and maybe you'll have an opportunity and eventually I did for Osaka the US Open holds a special place in her heart it's like a combination of a lot of different things she said I grew up here so just seeing kids and then remembering my made me very emotional her connection to the tournament coupled with the support of the fans made this Victory all the more meaningful she prepares for her next match against Czech player karolina machova Osaka carries with her the momentum of this significant win her emotional response to the victory is a reminder of the passion and dedication that drive her as she continues to write her remarkable story in the world of tennis