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Naomi Osaka Beats Zakharova in US Open Round

9/1/2026

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Summary

Osaka Wins USOpen

Naomi Osaka defeated Anastasia Zakharova 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) in the US Open round.
She entered Arthur Ashe Stadium in a hooded tunic printed with newspaper clippings of her career.
Osaka changed into a black basketball-style kit with cornrows, saying it honored Allen Iverson.
The win was her 10th major-match victory this season, the most since 2019.
It marked her first win at all four Grand Slam events since 2018.

Summary

Osaka Eyes Wimbledon

Naomi Osaka enters Wimbledon as a dark-horse contender after two prior titles and a near-final last year.
Analysts note her hard-court pedigree should translate to early-round success on grass despite limited recent grass play.
Her first-serve percentage hovered around 51% in the US Open win, indicating solid serve consistency.
Osaka admitted nerves during first-round matches and hopes to overcome them at Wimbledon.

History

Historical Context

During the 2001 US Open, held August 27–September 9, Venus Williams defended her title by beating sister Serena, while 20-year-old Lleyton Hewitt won the men’s championship after defeating Pete Sampras, who suffered his second consecutive final loss. The tournament’s high-visibility matches underscored player prominence on a global stage and drew worldwide media attention.

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Osaka Wins USOpen

Naomi Osaka defeated Anastasia Zakharova 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) in the US Open round.
She entered Arthur Ashe Stadium in a hooded tunic printed with newspaper clippings of her career.
Osaka changed into a black basketball-style kit with cornrows, saying it honored Allen Iverson.
The win was her 10th major-match victory this season, the most since 2019.
It marked her first win at all four Grand Slam events since 2018.

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