US Open RECAP: Osaka survives ‘concerning’ moments against world No.101

Thanks for joining our live coverage of day two at the US Open.

We’ll be back tomorrow for another big day of first-round action with Aussie stars Alex de Minaur, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Daria Kasatkina all playing.

Alexander Zverev, Taylor, Elena Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva are among the other big names who will take the court on day three.

Osaka rallies back to send it to a second-set tiebreak!

The two-time champ raced ahead to 5-1 early on but Zakharova fought back, continuing to play well above her ranking.

Osaka then regains composure and control.

She advances with a 7-6(8-6), 7-6(7-3) win over the world No.101 but will need to be much better as the tournament progresses.

Osaka is getting pushed to her limits in this second set.

After taking what looked to be a commanding lead, Zakharova has surged back to take the 6-5 lead after breaking Osaka’s serve at a crucial moment.

“There was a definite look of concern to her box,” Rennae Stubbs said on Nine as the 13th seed looked frustrated on the court.

Naomi Osaka is again having some issues in second set after surviving an earlier scare against world No.101 Anastasia Zakharova.

The two-time US Open champ is level at 2-2 in the second set after having her serve broken and is looking a little bit flustered.

A frustrated Hijikata double faults twice in a row and turns it right back over to Auger-Aliassime to close out the fourth set and the match.

No surprises here, but the Canadian star closes it out this time around.

Auger-Aliassime advances to the next round with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory.

Rijikata had some great moments and pushed the third seed past where many would have expected, but ultimately was outclassed in key periods.

Over on the main court at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the women’s draw, Naomi Osaka survived a scare in the first set against Anastasia Zakharova.

Osaka led 5-2 at one stage but almost dropped the set, before outlasting her rival in the tiebreak, winning it 8-6.

He’s simply not going away!

Hijikata saves two match points with Auger-Aliassime on serve and then takes the point to break right back in the fourth set.

“The fighting qualities of Rinky Hijikata,” Brenton Speed said on Nine.

We’re locked up at 5-5 now and the Aussie is back on serve.

Auger-Aliassime gets the crucial break to go up 5-4 in the fourth set.

Hijikata has pushed the third seed in this clash, but it could be over soon.

Can Rinky Hijikata push through to make it five from five wins for Australia’s athletes today? He sure wants to be.

Hijikata was unable to get the advantage he hoped for over Auger-Aliassime in the third set, losing out 3-6.

He has switched from the yellow shirt he donned during the rain delay back into the black shirt he initially started the match in. He looks more comfortable now.

Lets go, Rinky.

Alexei Popyrin is the latest Australian star to claim victory on day two.

Popyrin skilfully dismissed Grigor Dimitrov in four sets, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Dimitrov appeared to be battling some lower back concerns in the latter end of the match. He was quick to congratulate Popyrin and get off the court.

What a great result for Popyrin, who has had a relatively tough season.