Naomi Osaka Fights Hard in US Open Third Round
Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka took part in a tough third-round match at the US Open tennis tournament.
She appeared on court wearing a special outfit that combined formal and casual styles, drawing attention from fans.
Her opponent in the match was Elise Mertens, a player ranked number 20 in the world.
The match went to a full set, meaning it lasted the maximum length and was closely fought.
Osaka has won 80 matches at Grand Slam tournaments in her career, showing her strong record at major events.
However, she made several mistakes during this particular match and later spoke about needing to reflect on her performance.
The match was one of several closely watched games in the women's singles competition at this year's tournament.
Fans and commentators noted both her fashion choice and her fighting spirit on court.
Osaka continues to be one of the most recognizable figures in women's tennis, known both for her results and her style off the court.
Vocabulary6 words
- US Open
- a very important tennis event held every year in America
- outfit
- the clothes someone wears for an occasion
- Elise Mertens
- the name of Osaka's opponent in this match
- full set
- a tennis game part played all the way to the end
- Grand Slam
- one of four very important tennis tournaments each year
- reflect
- to think carefully about something that happened
Quiz
Answer key
1. A mix of formal and casual style 2. Elise Mertens 3. 80
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka took part in a tough third-round match at the _____ tennis tournament.
She appeared on court wearing a special _____ that combined formal and casual styles.
Her opponent in the match was _____, a player ranked number 20 in the world.
The match went to a full _____, meaning it lasted the maximum length.
Osaka has won 80 matches at _____ tournaments in her career.
However, she made several _____ during this particular match.
She later spoke about needing to _____ on her performance.
The match was one of several closely watched games in the women's _____ competition.
Osaka continues to be one of the most recognizable figures in women's _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think tennis players choose special outfits for big matches?
- How important do you think mental focus is in close, competitive matches?
- What do you think it means for an athlete to 'reflect' on mistakes after a game?
- Why might fans care as much about a player's fashion as their performance?