Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka both lose in US Open first round
Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka both lost in their first round matches in the US Open.
Their quarter-finalists, Naomi Osaka and Venus Williams, lost to the resurgent Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Victoria Azarenka, respectively, in straight sets.
The first seeded Emma lost to Madison Keys 2-6, 6-0, 6-3.
Naomi Osaka lost to Venus Williams in the first round in straight sets.Credit:AP
Naomi Osaka also lost to her Australian compatriot, Karolina Pliskova, in straight sets.
Serena Williams, the defending champion, defeated Ashleigh Barty 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.
The third seed Williams, who has also won the titles in Melbourne and Indian Wells earlier, has been sidelined in the U.S Open with a knee injury since 2014 because of a tear in her anterior cruciate ligament. She has only played three tournaments since her US Open final in August.
Naomi Osaka lost to Karolina Pliskova in the first round.Credit:AP
Williams’ loss in the first round prompted a Twitter outburst from Serena.
“I love you so much, but you are a bitch. You could care less if you were my age or not. Suck my dick, I don’t care,” she said.
“I’m ready for a tournament, I’m ready to keep going,” Williams continued. “I’m looking to fight for my place. I’m ready to get out there and fight.”
Williams will next face Jelena Ostapenko, who upset Karolina Pliskova in straight sets. Ostapenko will face Venus Williams if she can complete her first round victory on Friday.
Serena Williams’ two-year-old daughter, Francesca, was sitting on her mother’s chair on Court No. 3 during the first round in the US Open
