NEW YORK, Aug 31, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Naomi Osaka's hopes of a third US Open
title were dashed in the first round Tuesday as the Japanese star slumped to
a straight sets loss against Danielle Collins.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka, a winner at Flushing Meadows in 2018 and
2020, was beaten 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 by 19th-seeded American Collins in a battle
of two big hitters.

Collins, finalist at this year's Australian Open, now advances to a second
round clash with Spain's Cristina Bucsa.

The 28-year-old right-hander from Florida will head into that assignment
brimming with confidence after showing great composure to put away Osaka on
Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Former world number one Osaka, whose ranking has fallen to 44 after an
inconsistent year, made a smooth start with an early break to take a 3-0
lead.

But Collins battled back into the match and took the first set after winning
a hard-fought tie-break.

With both players producing some booming groundstrokes, the second set was a
question of who would blink first.

Collins put herself on the threshold of victory after breaking Osaka for a 5-
3 lead in the eighth game.

Osaka, 24, came within touching distance of securing the break of serve
needed to keep the match alive after taking a 15-40 lead in the ninth game.

But Collins rallied back to deuce and then seized victory on her first match
point when Osaka hit a return long.