Naomi Osaka needed three sets to get past Kateřina Siniaková at the 2026 US Open on Thursday. The 13th seed won 6-2, 5-7, 6-1, advancing to the third round after a second-set stumble nearly derailed her.
Naomi Osaka Falters Against Kateřina Siniaková
Osaka controlled the opener with just 4 unforced errors and broke Siniaková twice. She carried that form into the second set, building a 5-3 lead.
But from there, her baseline game came apart. Siniaková, ranked 42nd in singles but No. 1 in doubles, reeled off 4 consecutive games to level the match.
Break in Play Keeps Osaka's 2026 US Open Hopes Alive
Between sets, Osaka took a bathroom break to reset.
"I just felt like I had to fight," she said. "I was a little bit too hard on myself... took the bathroom break, regrouped a little, came back and just tried to have no regrets."
That composure showed right away in the decider. Osaka jumped to a 3-0 lead and closed out the match in 2 hours and 2 minutes. The win marks her 8th US Open third-round appearance in 10 trips.
She'll face No. 20 seed Elise Mertens next, holding a 6-3 edge in their head-to-head series.
