NEW YORK — Naomi Osaka is back in the third round of the U.S. Open for the first time since 2021, the year after she won her second singles championship at Flushing Meadows.
She’s playing rather well at the moment, too, under the guidance of a new coach.
Just don’t expect the 27-year-old Japanese player to weigh in on whether she feels as if she is ready to make another deep run at the place.
“Honestly, I don’t really know. I don’t make it my business to know anymore. I kind of just leave it up in the air,” the 23rd-seeded Osaka said after eliminating Hailey Baptiste, 6-3, 6-1, in the second round in just 70 minutes Thursday.
“For me, I realize that I’ve done everything that I could. I’ve trained really hard. I practiced really hard. If it happens, it happens.”