Danielle Collins has said she was left speechless after she beat two-time Grand Slam champion, Naomi Osaka, at the US Open.
The 19-seeded Collins beat Osaka 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to qualify for a second round clash with Spain’s Cristina Bucsa.
The victory was exciting to Collins who had skipped tournaments in Silicon Valley and Toronto to allow herself time to recuperate from a neck injury.
“I’m just really still kind of speechless in a way because I took the summer off,” Collins said. “To kind of come out here, play a tough opponent first round, someone that’s won two Grand Slams here, it’s not easy.
“Just really over the moon about being able to get through this first round because I don’t think most players want to face Naomi in the first round.”
On her part, Osaka blamed the loss on a back pain she had been nursing.
“I tried as hard as I could. I wanted to play without my back being in pain. I only really started serving two days ago,” she said.
