NEW YORK :Japan's four-times major winner Naomi Osaka cruised through to the U.S. Open third round on Thursday, overwhelming American Hailey Baptiste 6-3 6-1 in a dominant performance.

Osaka, twice U.S. Open champion, had not reached the third round at Flushing Meadows since 2021 but looked very comfortable as she booked a meeting with 15th seed Daria Kasatkina or Kamilla Rakhimova.

"I was just really trying to focus and not give her any free points and just be positive," said Osaka, who donned a sparkling purple kit and walked in with her Labubu charm she nicknamed "Arthur Flash" in honour of late American tennis pioneer Arthur Ashe.

Osaka has shown glimpses of her old form this year, reaching the Montreal final, and after trading early breaks she used her trademark powerful forehand t

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