Defending champ Naomi Osaka knocked out of US Open

By Howard Fendrich The Asssociated Press

5 years ago

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, looks up at the score board during her match against Belinda Bencic, of ... — Naomi Osaka, of Japan, looks up at the score board during her match against Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, in the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, right, shakes hands after defeating Naomi Osaka, of Japan, 7-5, 6-4 during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, reacts after defeating Naomi Osaka, of Japan, 7-5, 6-4 during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, returns to Naomi Osaka, of Japan, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, serves against Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, serves against Naomi Osaka, of Japan, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK — Naomi Osaka’s 10-match U.S. Open winning streak and title defense are done after she was outplayed in the fourth round by Belinda Bencic and lost 7-5, 6-4.

Osaka has been wearing a black sleeve on her bothersome left knee and was visited by a trainer after getting broken to trail 3-2 in the second set.

The result under the closed roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium on a rainy Monday means both defending champions and No. 1 seeds are gone before the quarterfinals at the year’s last Grand Slam tournament.

Novak Djokovic stopped playing in his fourth-round match against Stan Wawrinka on Sunday night because of a painful left shoulder.

Osaka made her breakthrough at Flushing Meadows a year ago, winning her first major championship by beating Serena Williams in a chaotic final that devolved after Williams got into an extended argument with the chair umpire.

Osaka followed that up with a second consecutive Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open in January. That allowed her to become the first tennis player representing Japan to reach No. 1 in the rankings.

The 13th-seeded Bencic, who is from Switzerland and has been mentored by Martina Hingis, showed again that she is a big-match player. She improved to 3-0 against Osaka this season and now has a tour-leading nine victories over top-10 opponents in 2019.

Bencic also is 4-1 over her career against top-ranked players.