Naomi Osaka was back on centre stage at the US Open, armed with a new approach to handling the spotlight that shines brighter than ever on the four-time grand slam champion. 

Playing in only her sixth match since withdrawing from the French Open after the controversy surrounding her decision not to attend the mandatory news conferences, the defending champion cruised past Marie Bouzkova 6-4 6-1 in the first round at Flushing Meadows on Monday.

Osaka revelled in the legendary night-time atmosphere on Arthur Ashe Stadium, with a full complement of fans in attendance after last year's cavernous, coronavirus-driven quiet, but she mostly appreciated the internal adjustment she has made after spending much of the build-up pondering her approach to competition. 

"I tell people that I'm a perfectionist," the world number three, who saved all eight break points she faced, told a news conference following her win. "I think for me something that's less than perfection, even though it might be something great, is a disappointment. I don't really think that's a healthy way of thinking. So something that I really wanted to change."

There was little to complain about in terms of her performance Monday, as she dispatched the 87th-ranked Bouzkova with little difficulty.

But Osaka did notice a difference in the way she absorbed that performance, as the Japanese star found herself able to see the big picture rather than dwelling on a missed shot here or a lost point there. 

Osaka is looking to become the first woman to win consecutive titles at Flushing Meadows since 23-time major champion Serena Williams claimed three in a row from 2012 to 2014.

The 23-year-old is the only woman to win at least one major title over the past four seasons, claiming the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, as well as the US Open in 2018 and last year.

"Honestly I didn't feel pressure today. I don't really know how to describe it. It may have to do with my mindset change," she said. "So I didn't feel pressure today. But I think I felt nerves because I wanted to perform well. I think in my mind I told myself that if I performed well, then the outcome, even if I win or lose, should be okay.

"I also felt like at the end of the day you train really hard to play in front of people, especially a night match in Ashe, it's the biggest stadium in tennis. I don't know, I think that's why I felt nervous, but I definitely didn't feel any pressure."

That was a new sensation after the last few months, which has seen Osaka in the media glare even when she was not on the court. 

She skipped Wimbledon following her French Open withdrawal, then had the honour of lighting the Olympic torch at the Tokyo Games before she was upset in the round of 16 in her home country. 

Osaka briefly broke down in tears at a pre-tournament news conference in Cincinnati, then lost her second match at the Western & Southern Open after beating Coco Gauff in a tough three-setter in her return to WTA Tour play. 

In New York, Osaka appeared back in her comfort zone – admittedly, a work in progress given the way her summer has unfolded – and she said she is gradually coming to grips with her place in the world and how to approach it. 

"I think for me one of the biggest things is, like, hearing a little kid telling me that I'm their favourite player or I'm a role model," she said. "Instinctively the first thought in my mind is like, 'Why?'

"I feel like I have to sort of embrace more the feeling that, like, the honour that they're telling me that, and I should believe more in myself. I feel like if you don't believe in yourself, then other people won't believe in yourself. It's more like a realisation thing."