Tennis: 2-time champion Naomi Osaka makes winning return at U.S. ...

Two-time champion and wildcard Naomi Osaka made a winning return to the U.S. Open Tennis Championship on Tuesday as the Japanese eased past world No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-3, 6-2 in the women's first round.

The former world No. 1 Osaka, back at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for the first time since returning from maternity leave, needed only 1 hour and 4 minutes to prevail in a solid outing, committing only five unforced errors compared to 21 from Ostapenko.

"I was trying not to cry when I was walking out," a tearful Osaka said on the court after the match on her return to the tournament, where she won her first Grand Slam in 2018 by beating Serena Williams in the final before winning the title again two years later by defeating Victoria Azarenka.

"I remember last year watching Coco (Gauff, the champion) play and I so badly wanted to step out on this court again and I didn't know if I could, I didn't know (if) athletically, physically I was (capable)...Just to be in this atmosphere means so much to me so thank you."

Osaka made no double faults, had nine aces to Ostapenko's five and won 80 percent of her points on her first serve, stopping her opponent, known for her strong returns, from gaining a foothold in the match.

"It was stressful, she was really hitting some good shots and I just told myself 'keep going, keep playing for every point and maybe you'll have an opportunity,' and eventually I did," said Osaka, who broke three times while giving up none to Ostapenko.

"It's a funny thing, when you know you're playing someone that has a good return, you focus so much on your serve and that's kind of what I did today, and I just hoped that she didn't hit too many winners on me."

Osaka, who gave birth to her daughter in July last year, made her Grand Slam return at the Australian Open in January when she lost in the first round. She went out in the second round at the French Open and Wimbledon before going out in the first round at the Paris Olympics.

"Overall, have a lot of fun," she said on her goal at the tournament in New York. "Actually, last night my daughter didn't want to go to sleep on her bedtime so I had to hold her for quite a while, and I was like 'Oh wow she really picked the perfect day not to go to sleep.'"

"Moments like that are so precious to me and I just can only hope that I can keep having more."

Japan's Ena Shibahara beat Australia's Daria Saville 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(6) in a 3-hour, 17-minute marathon match, while Nao Hibino lost 6-0, 6-1 against Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.

In the men's first round, Japan's Taro Daniel lost to Australia's Tristan Schoolkate 4-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(6), 6-4.

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