Does a former overall winner stumble early?
A real tennis treat is in store for the first round of the US Open’s 142nd women’s singles to finish on a golden note when two-time overall winner Naomi Osaka takes to the court on Wednesday. Because the Japanese has had to struggle with all kinds of problems over the past year and a half, she will start unseeded – and therefore promptly got herself a tough opponent in her opening match.
Danielle Collins will start in New York City not only as a local hero, but also as the number 19 seed. The lady from Florida also reached the final of the Australian Open at the beginning of the year. Nevertheless, in the run-up to the clash between Naomi Osaka and Danielle Collins, the odds are swinging in the direction of the Japanese, who has suffered three defeats in a row lately
In general, Naomi Osaka’s record has not been too good since losing the Miami Open final at the beginning of April. She failed in round one at the French Open. In Wimbledon she did not even take part. All in all, she has only played seven singles matches in the past six months, of which she lost five.
It is therefore interesting to bet on Naomi Osaka against Danielle Collins and to bet on the American. In order to reduce the associated risk, the proposed handicap bet would be a possibility on the one hand.
Naomi Osaka – Statistics & current form
Current ranking in the world rankings: 44
Position in the seedings: unseeded
The 24-year-old Japanese Naomi Osaka, who grew up in the USA as the daughter of a Japanese and a Haitian, has experienced all the ups and downs of being a professional athlete at a young age.
On the one hand, the former world number one has already won four Grand Slam tournaments. On the other hand, she has had to take breaks from time to time due to minor injuries, but also because of serious psychological problems. Most recently, she was in therapeutic treatment after an interjection in Indian Wells (“Naomi, you suck!”)
Recently lost two opening matches in a row
In fact, the Sunshine Double also represents the last time this year that the 24-year-old has been able to call on her best performance.
After losing the final of the Miami Open, the free fall began and is still continuing.
Naomi Osaka has only won two singles matches since the beginning of April and was eliminated in the first round of the US Open Series at both the Roger’s Cup in Canada and the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. She is now ranked only 44th in the WTA world rankings.
Tough draw for the two-time US Open winner
Accordingly, the two-time overall winner, who has been remarkably open about her current state ahead of the 2022 US Open, is off to a tough start. Also considering that the former world number one has drawn such a tough draw for the first round, it is very surprising that the bookmakers see her as such a clear favourite.
Danielle Collins – Statistics & current form
Current ranking in the World Ranking: 19
Position in the seedings: 19
The 28-year-old American Danielle Collins is definitely what you could call a late bloomer. The Florida-born player already attracted attention in her college days, but initially preferred the academic path to a professional career.
Collins first made it to the main draw of the US Open women’s singles in 2014. Up to and including 2017, however, she played only two Grand Slams and could be found practically exclusively in ITF tournaments.
Another milestone at Flushing Meadows?
For the past five years, however, the American has been firmly established on the WTA Tour, where she has already achieved several milestones. In 2019, she reached the semifinals at the Australian Open on her debut. This year, she even made it to the final, but missed out on the big one against local hero Ashleigh Barty.
In addition, Collins won her first two singles titles on the WTA Tour in 2021 and reached her career high in July this year: seventh place in the WTA world rankings. Her annual record stands at twelve wins from 20 singles matches.
Only won three matches in the last six months
However, it has to be said that the 28-year-old has also been in crisis since the Sunshine Double in the spring. Collins has played just eight singles since March, winning only three of them.
Nevertheless, it is perhaps this underdog role against an opponent who is beside herself that inspires the American, who is often described as “wild” because of her hyper-aggressive style of play. The betting on Naomi Osaka’s progress to the second round against Danielle Collins is correspondingly interesting.
Naomi Osaka – Danielle Collins Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
Head to head: 3:0
The two players have faced each other on the court three times and Naomi Osaka has won all three by a clear 2-0 margin – most recently in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open (6-2 and 6-1). The Japanese has never dropped more than six games in a match against Danielle Collins.
Naomi Osaka – Danielle Collins Tip
With a view to the extremely clear “head to head” comparison, the prediction for Naomi Osaka against Danielle Collins must actually go in the direction of the Japanese. However, things have not been going well for the two-time US Open winner lately, who failed in her opening match at both the Roger’s Cup and the Western & Southern Open. Accordingly, Danielle Collins’ chances of improving her record are good.
An important factor is also that the American, as a local hero, should have the crowd behind her. If she then manages to score important points with her aggressive style of play, it can really put the Japanese, who has been looking a little unsettled lately, in her place.
