Defending champion Angelique Kerber of Germany was knocked out of the U.S. Open in the first round when she lost 6-3 6-1 to Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka on Tuesday.
The last defending women’s champion to lose in the first round at Flushing Meadows was Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2005. The 19-year-old Osaka, the 2016 WTA newcomer of the year, was rarely troubled by the sixth-seeded Kerber, who has not won a title since she prevailed here last year.
Number one seed in the men’s draw Rafael Nadal beat Serbian Dusan Lajovic in straight sets after a close first set that went to a very close tie-breaker. The number one seed in the women’s draw Karolina Pliskova comfortably won her match against Magda Linette, ending the match on an ace.
