US Open: Naomi Osaka gets walkover, Sloane Stephens defeats Coco Gauff

Defending champion Naomi Osaka has reached the third round of the US Open after Serbian Olga Danilovich withdrew from the competition before the second round match on Wednesday due to illness, tournament organizers said.

The Japanese third seed and world number 145 Danilovic, who was competing in her first US Open main draw, were scheduled to be the day’s second match in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I am so sad to have to (withdraw) from my match this morning,” Danilovic wrote on social media.

“I have been feeling unwell these past few days dealing with a non-Covid related viral illness. I was really looking forward to playing against Naomi on Arthur Ashe Stadium today, but not to be this time.”

Osaka will face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez or Estonian Kaia Kanepi in the third round.

American Sloane Stephens, the 2017 champion, beat 17-year-old compatriot Coco Gauff in what was the first official match between the two. Stephens, who had said in 2018 that a then 14-year-old Gauff would become a household name one day, won the match 6-4, 6-2.

“I love Coco. I think everyone knows I love Coco. At the end of the match, I said, ‘I love you.’ She’s such a great player and I feel so lucky to have seen her grow up and play since she was 8,” Stephens told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.

The match to determine the next foe for Stephens – three-time Slam champ Angelique Kerber vs. Anhelina Kalinina – was supposed to be played at the Louis Armstrong stadium following the men’s singles match between Kevin Anderson and Diego Schwartzman but was postponed until Thursday.