Naomi Osaka starts her title defense, and Coco Gauff returns to the Grand Slam spotlight on the second day of the tournament.
Naomi Osaka, above, plays her first-round match against Anna Blinkova on Tuesday.CreditJohn Minchillo/Associated Press
How to watch: ESPN, noon, Eastern time; streaming on ESPN+ and ESPN3, 11 a.m.
How to get there: Take the 7 subway line or the Long Island Rail Road to Mets-Willets Point.
At noon, Naomi Osaka, the world No. 1, will start her title defense at Arthur Ashe Stadium with a different coach, a suspect left knee and a hope to reclaim the excitement she brought to last year’s run.
She followed her women’s singles title at the United States Open last September with a championship at the Australian Open in January, but she has struggled to play at the same level since then. She has shown some sparks during the hardcourts season this summer, reaching the quarterfinals at tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati.
Her opponent, Anna Blinkova, has never made it past the first round at the U.S. Open, but advanced to the third round at the French Open this year. If she can keep Osaka moving and test her knee without being overwhelmed by Osaka’s powerful groundstrokes, Blinkova might have a chance to pull off an upset.
Here’s a guide to some other matches worth keeping an eye on Tuesday, whether you are at the National Tennis Center or watching on TV.
