NEW YORK — Naomi Osaka defeated Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 in the second round of the 2026 US Open. The match lasted two hours and two minutes.

Osaka will face Elise Mertens in the third round. Mertens is the 23rd seed at the tournament. She defeated Maria Timofeeva 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) in the second round.

"The match was definitely really tough. I just felt like I was a little bit too hard on myself after opportunities in the second set," Osaka said. "I took the bathroom break, regrouped a little, came back and just tried to have no regrets."

Osaka wore a white dress embroidered with tennis racquets for her second-round match. Her mother, Tamaki, attended the match wearing a grey suit jacket, white dress shirt, and silver tie. Earlier in the week, Tamaki attended Osaka's practice session wearing a red dress with black opera-length gloves and Nike Air Max Plus sneakers.

Osaka is the number 13 seed at the 2026 US Open. She is 28 years old. This victory marked her 80th Grand Slam singles win in the Open era. Ai Sugiyama is the only other Japanese woman in the Open era to record 80 Grand Slam singles wins.

This is the first time since 2018 that Osaka has reached the third round at all four Grand Slam tournaments in the same season. Osaka won the US Open in 2018 and 2020. Iga Swiatek won the US Open in 2022.

Why It Matters

Osaka’s advancement to the third round confirms a return to consistent deep-tournament performance across the major calendar. Reaching this stage at all four Grand Criticizes in a single season for the first time since 2018 signals a stabilization in form after years of fluctuating results. The milestone places her among an exclusive group of Japanese players, joining Ai Sugiyama in reaching 80 career Grand Slam singles wins in the Open era.

The match also reflects evolving dynamics in tournament operations and player presentation. The USTA’s expansion of influencer credentials reflects a broader shift in how major sporting events manage media access and digital content creation. Osaka’s integration of fashion narratives, citing cultural figures like Allen Iverson, shows the intersection of athletic competition and personal branding that defines the modern US Open experience.

Timeline

On 2026-08-27, Osaka's mother, Tamaki, attended Osaka's practice session wearing a red dress with black opera-length gloves and Nike Air Max Plus sneakers. On 2026-08-31, Osaka wears the number 13 seed at the 2026 US Open. Also on 2026-08-31, Osaka wore a custom Who Decides War tulle gown with sewn-in newspaper clippings for her first-round match. Her first-round outfit was styled by Law Roach. Osaka stated her first-round outfit was inspired by Allen Iverson. "He was an elite player on the court but also found a way to authentically merge culture, sports, and fashion," Osaka said of Allen Iverson. "The US Open has always felt like a homecoming of sorts, so I wanted to harness the energy and vibe of the city into my look," Osaka said. Later that day, Osaka defeated Anastasia Zakharova 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-3) in the first round of the 2026 US Open.

What's New

Additional reporting confirmed details surrounding Osaka’s earlier matches and tournament context. Naomi Osaka’s first-round match against Anastasia Zakharova at the 2026 US Open was briefly interrupted by influencers using ring lights and flashes.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) increased influencer media credentials to nearly 100 for the 2026 US Open, up from 54 in 2025. Elise Mertens defeated Maria Timofeeva 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) in the second round of the 2026 US Open.