Osaka through; Kvitova crashes
Reigning US Open champion Naomi Osaka eased into the third round Thursday but Petra Kvitova crashed out as organizers sought to play catch up following heavy rain.
Top seed Osaka proved too strong for 53rd-ranked Magda Linette of Poland, sweeping to a 6-2, 6-4 victory and setting up a potential showdown with 15-year-old American sensation Coco Gauff for a spot in the last 16.
Twenty-two singles ties were pushed back from Wednesday after a downpour limited play to the two show courts in New York, beefing Thursday’s schedule up to 54 matches across both halves of the singles draws.
Osaka wrapped up the opening set in 30 minutes but endured a brief wobble, falling 3-0 down in the second, before reeling off six of the final seven games to advance.
“I’m really happy to not have to play a three-set match,” Osaka said.
Among the celebrities watching her match at Louis Armstrong Stadium were basketball legend Kobe Bryant and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
“I’m really grateful they came out,” Osaka said. “It’s really cool. I honestly just wanted to finish as fast as possible because I didn’t want them to be out in the sun too long.”
Meanwhile, Andrea Petkovic knocked out Czech sixth seed Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion, to reach the third round for the first time since 2015.
World number 88 Petkovic strung together successive main draw wins for just the second time this season in a 6-4, 6-4 triumph.
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