American tennis legend Jimmy Connors took a moment to congratulate fellow compatriot Danielle Collins on starting her US Open campaign with a big victory over four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. In the US Open first round, Collins took out Osaka with a 7-6 (5) 6-3 score.
Osaka is a two-time champion at Flushing Meadows and one of the players that no seeded player wanted to face. But Collins handled the business and sent out Osaka packing out of New York. “Hey Danielle Collins—way to go- a great win— @USOpen – thanks for the shout out— best to you dad and always give it your “all”— keep grinding —- JC #winner,” Connors wrote on Twitter.
Hey Danielle Collins—way to go- a great win— @USOpen– thanks for the shout out— best to you dad and always give it your “all”— keep grinding —- JC #winner — Jimmy Connors (@JimmyConnors) August 31, 2022
Collins finally gets a win over Osaka
When Collins and Osaka met in Beijing four years ago, the Japanese won their meeting with a dominant 6-1 6-0 score.
In 2019 Indian Wells, Osaka claimed another straight-set win over Collins. Earlier this year in Miami, Osaka dimantled Collins 6-2 6-1. After not winning a single set in her first three matches against Osaka, Collins finally beat the Japanese – and did it in straight sets.
Going into their US Open match, Collins knew what mistakes she needed to avoid this time. “I lost to Naomi three times before, so going into the match I had a lot of information on what I kind of needed to do better, areas I could improve,” Collins said.
“I think I did those things and played overall pretty well. I got lucky in some big moments. But I was working really hard for the points. She wasn’t giving me a ton much free ones.” In the US Open second round, Collins plays Cristina Bucsa.
Collins and Bucsa will be going head-to-head for the first time when they meet at the US Open. Collins, 28, is bidding to reach the second week at Flushing Meadows for the first time in her career.
