US Open 2025: How ‘progress in attitude’ steered ‘confident’ Naomi Osaka into third round with win over Hailey Baptiste

Naomi Osaka believes a change in attitude allowed her to secure a worry-free second-round victory over Hailey Baptiste at the US Open. The former world No. 1 made light work of the American, recording a 6-3 6-1 victory in one hour and 12 minutes. The Japanese star also gave her views on the row between Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend, saying the former's "uneducated" comment was "ill-timed".

'African-American tennis is at an all-time high right now' - Tiafoe

Video credit: SNTV

Naomi Osaka claimed a change in her attitude was key to her comfortable 6-3 6-1 victory over Hailey Baptiste in the US Open second round.

The Japanese star took just one hour and 12 minutes to defeat her American opponent, conceding three fewer games and spending 12 minutes less on court than in her first-round win against Greetje Minnen.

Osaka described being "very stressed" during her opener, but was glad to have made mental progress by Thursday evening.

US Open

‘Predictable’ Sinner ready to ‘lose matches’ in order to bridge gap to Alcaraz

08/09/2025 at 19:56

"I would say I made progress in my attitude, which is the one thing that I really wanted to work on. I think on Tuesday I was getting really down on myself in certain moments," said Osaka in her post-match press conference.

"And then today I just really tried to be positive, even if she hit a crazy winner or even if she did something incredible, and I tried to be very stable.

"I am quite confident in myself now, so I think that is also working for me."

Having reached the final of the Canadian Open in early August, her first on the WTA Tour since January, some expect Osaka to reach the latter stages at Flushing Meadows.

But the 27-year-old has not got past the third round of a Grand Slam since winning the Australian Open in 2021, and is taking a philosophical approach to her personal expectations here.

"I don't really know," answered Osaka when asked if she sees herself going deep in the tournament. "I don't make it my business to know anymore. I kind of just leave it up in the air.

"For me, I realise that I've done everything that I could. I've trained really hard. I practised really hard. If it happens, it happens.

"I think obviously I played well in Montreal, and I would like to think that I had focus there. So I would hope that the longer the tournament goes on, the easier it is for me to maintain a level of focus."

Osaka will face 15th seed Daria Kasatkina in the third round on Saturday, August 30.

Osaka reacts to Ostapenko 'uneducated' row

Osaka was also asked for her thoughts on the row between Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend, which saw the former call the American "uneducated" during her second-round loss.

The four-time Grand Slam champion claimed it was not "the craziest thing" Ostapenko had said and added that Townsend was "the worst person" to address such a comment towards.

"It's really difficult to say. I think obviously it's one of the worst things you can say to a black tennis player in a majority white sport," said Osaka.

"And granted, I know Taylor and I know how hard she's worked and I know how smart she is, so she's the furthest thing from uneducated or anything like that.

"But if you're genuinely asking me about the history of Ostapenko, I don't think that's the craziest thing she's said. I'm going to be honest.

'I stood up for myself' - Townsend says Ostapenko told her she has 'no education and no class'

Video credit: SNTV

"I think it's ill-timed and the worst person you could have ever said it to. And I don't know if she knows the history of it in America.

"But I know she's never going to say that ever again in her life. But, yeah, it was just terrible. That's just really bad."

Ostapenko posted on social media denying any accusation of racism, arguing that Townsend behaved "in a disrespectful way" by not apologising after benefitting from a net cord.

"I was never racist in my life and I respect all nations of people in the world, for me it doesn’t matter where you come from. There are some rules and unfortunately when the crowd is with you, you can’t use it in a disrespectful way to your opponent," wrote Ostapenko.

"I always loved to play in the US and the US Open, but this is the first time someone is approaching the match this disrespectful way."

Watch and stream top tennis action live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

US Open