'I'm shocked I won that match': Osaka comments on win over Mertens at US Open

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osaka-naomi/MDM4BKiA/"]Osaka[/a] had 41 unforced errors, her backhand in particular letting her down as she was unable to build on a comfortable first set for the second straight match.[/p][p][b]"I'm literally shocked that I won this match,"[/b] Osaka, seeded 13th, told an adoring crowd in Louis Armstrong Stadium.[/p][p][b]"There was a certain point where I felt like I put my entire heart on the court. I just kept trying every point."[/b][/p][embed guid="38d2904e-0562-4296-812e-d39a5bbe4b28" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNxTi0L7XYM" social-type="youtube" /][p]After an early exchange of breaks in the second set, Osaka failed to convert a pair of chances and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mertens-elise/Y1ZrrUtl/"]Mertens[/a] broke again for a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/mertens-e-Y1ZrrUtl/osaka-n-MDM4BKiA/?mid=hUGKJDYh"]5-3[/a] lead.[/p][p]Osaka gifted the Belgian two break points with a double fault, saving one with a forehand winner before sailing a backhand wide.[/p][p]Mertens finally took the set when Osaka dumped a backhand into the net.[/p][p]Mertens kept the pressure on in the third and was rewarded with a break for a 3-2 lead, aided by a string of backhand errors from Osaka.[/p][p]Osaka was clearly frustrated, berating herself and exchanging some testy words with her team.[/p][image alt="Osaka-Mertens matchup stats" id="686d6377-06e1-45a8-bdaa-1e053174d464" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="f0bd80b1-215d-445e-97f4-0b9671bac6c1" original-width="2160" original-height="3840" /][p][b]"I didn't feel like I played amazing; it was really getting me down," [/b]she told the crowd, offering an apology for her behavior.[/p][p]She was down a break, trailing 4-3 when she took a medical timeout for treatment on her left calf and ankle.[/p][p]Osaka returned with renewed vigor, breaking Mertens at love for 4-4 and saving a break point in the next game for a 5-4 lead.[/p][p]Mertens didn't go quietly, saving a match point on the way to 5-5 and saving two more in the final game before Osaka secured the win.[/p][embed guid="58fabfec-9524-4fea-b435-b3428427e1e8" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4o9H_dOmbM&pp=0gcJCRsMAYcqIYzv" social-type="youtube" /][infobox id="3dc51b3a-107f-482b-9173-a97d347ef1b3" /]