Osaka turned and won the first set by 6-4, but swamped a match ball, lost the second set by 6-7 after tiebreak in the second set.
The star player from Japan won the third and decisive set with the confident numbers 6-2 against Blinkova - who has 84th place in the world rankings - and admitted that she was nervous during the match.
- You want to do well after last year's success. I really love the audience here and I want to stay here, ”she says in Eurosport's broadcast.
Naomi Osaka is the reigning champion of the US Open, and is partially raised in New York where the tournament is played.