NAOMI OSAKA VS ANNA BLINKOVA LIVE
SECOND SET (*denotes server)
OSAKA 6-4 4-5 BLINKOVA*
Blinkova backhand winner, 30-0. Osaka forehand return long, 40-0. Big serve from Blinkova to seal the game.
*OSAKA 6-4 4-4 BLINKOVA
Blinkova backhand into the net and she throws her racket to the floor in frustration, 40-30. But Osaka then puts a backhand long, deuce.
Osaka hits her fourth ace of the match to hold again.
OSAKA 6-4 3-4 BLINKOVA*
Chance for Osaka as Blinkova nets a forehand, break point. Osaka puts a forehand long, a wry smile after that bad miss.
Brutal forehand return from Osaka, deuce. Blinkova forehand winner. Osaka responds with her own forehand winner. However, Blinkova eventually comes through when Osaka nets a forehand.
*OSAKA 6-4 3-3 BLINKOVA
Osaka slips to 0-30 again but once again responds by getting level. And she holds to 30.
OSAKA 6-4 2-3 BLINKOVA*
Blinkova holds to love when Osaka goes long with a forehand. 27 unforced errors from Osaka in the match.
*OSAKA 6-4 2-2 BLINKOVA
Osaka puts a forehand into the tramlines and she’s under pressure on serve again. Break point Blinkova.
Osaka responds with a good deep backhand, deuce. And Osaka hangs on again.
OSAKA 6-4 1-2 BLINKOVA*
Blinkova holds comfortably, she’s still fully engaged in this battle and sense her chance for an upset.
*OSAKA 6-4 1-1 BLINKOVA
Break point for Blinkova but Osaka hangs on after a grueling rally. And she aces Blinkova to hold on.
OSAKA 6-4 0-1 BLINKOVA*
Blinkova holds to love to start the second set.
FIRST SET
*OSAKA 6-4 BLINKOVA
Osaka nets a mid-court forehand, 0-30. But she gets back level when he forces Blinkova into an error.
Great hustle and defence from Osaka and she gets another error from Blinkova, set point. And she wraps up the set with a forehand winner. Tremendous fightback.
OSAKA 5-4 BLINKOVA*
Blinkova goes long with a backhand, 30-all. Chance for Osaka but she shanks a forehand wide.
Superb ball-striking from Osaka as she pulls Blinkova all around the court, deuce.
Break point Osaka as Blinkova goes long again. A stunning forehand pass on the run by Blinkova, deuce. Osaka hits back with a big backhand return down the line, second break point.
And Osaka gets the break when Blinkova’s backhand hits the top of the net and flies wide.
*OSAKA 4-4 BLINKOVA
Osaka holds to 15 to consolidate the break. Too many errors from Blinkova at the moment.
OSAKA 3-4 BLINKOVA*
Big chance for Osaka as she drills a forehand down the line for a winner, 0-40.
And Osaka does break back when Blinkova puts a simple volley into the net.
*OSAKA 2-4 BLINKOVA
Ace from Osaka, 15-all. But she follows that with a backhand into the middle of the net, 15-30. Better from Osaka with the backhand as she forces the error from Blinkova.
The world No 1 ends the game with a blistering forehand winner.
OSAKA 1-4 BLINKOVA*
A brilliant backhand winner from Osaka, 15-30. Osaka gets into a nice position but puts a forehand into the tramlines again then goes long, 40-30.
Plenty of encouragement from the crowd from Osaka. But it is not enough as she nets a forehand.
*OSAKA 1-3 BLINKOVA
Osaka finally gets on the board as she holds to 15.
OSAKA 0-3 BLINKOVA*
Osaka forehand return into the net, 40-0.
Osaka hits back with a forehand winner, 40-15. Double fault from Blinkova 40-30. Blinkova holds to consolidate the break.
*OSAKA 0-2 BLINKOVA
Backhand from Osaka drifts wide, 15-all. Blinkova attacks Osaka’s serve with the return and draws the error, 15-30. Osaka puts a backhand into the tramlines, two break points.
And Blinkova breaks after a tame backhand into the net from Osaka. Concerning start from the world No 1/
OSAKA 0-1 BLINKOVA*
Good speed from Osaka to chase down a short ball and put away a forehand down the line, 30-15.
Osaka nets a forehand, 40-30. Blinkova goes wide with a backhand, deuce.
Blinkova holds.
17:05: Osaka and Blinkova walk on to Arthur Ashe. There’s a black knee brace on Osaka’s left knee.
16:45: Osaka comes into the match with some doubts over her health after retiring from her last match in Cincinnati with a knee injury.
She has been training with strapping on her knee during practise this week.
16:30: Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Naomi Osaka’s first-round clash against Anna Blinkova at the US Open.
