Osaka dispatches Doi to kick off US Open campaign wearing Breonna Taylor face mask

 Gauff and Osaka could have met again at Flushing Meadows in the third round. On Monday, the big-hitting Japanese baseliner faced compatriot Misaki Doi in the night session.

Ahead of her match, Osaka entered Arthur Ashe Stadium wearing a mask that said "Breonna Taylor" on it. After defeating Doi, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, Osaka was asked about the mask.

"I have seven," Osaka told ESPN on court. "It's quite sad that seven masks isn't enough for the amount of names, so hopefully I'll get to the finals and you can see all of them."

Osaka -- who pulled out before Saturday's final at the Western & Southern Open because of a left hamstring injury -- will face Italy's Camila Giorgi in the second round.

"I just have to see what happens tomorrow and how I feel," Osaka said.

The Western & Southern Open is usually held just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, but was moved to the US Open grounds to strengthen the bubble, a concept similarly used in the NBA, NHL and soccer's Champions League and MLS.

The US Open revealed Sunday, however, that an unnamed player had tested positive for Covid-19.

US Open spokesman Chris Widmaier told CNN in an email that the player couldn't be named due to health laws, but he was identified as the outgoing Frenchman, Benoit Paire, by French sports daily L'Equipe. He has since been widely identified in other news outlets and on social media. CNN has reached out to a representative for Paire.

Paire's name was subsequently removed from the official draw and replaced by an alternate from the doubles field, Marcel Granollers.