Osaka, showing she can still play elite tennis, misses a chance to knock off the top-ranked player as Swiatek rallies for the 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5 win
Iga Swiatek demonstrated why she's the current No. 1 and a two-time defending champion at the French Open, displaying remarkable resilience and skill. Naomi Osaka, meanwhile, reminded everyone of her former No. 1 status with an impressive performance on clay, indicating she's still capable of competing at the highest level.
In a thrilling second-round match on Wednesday night, Swiatek saved a match point and won the last five games to clinch a 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5 victory. This contest, lasting nearly three hours, was a testament to the prowess of both players, each a four-time Grand Slam champion.
“This match was really intense, especially for the second round. Naomi played amazing tennis. I’m happy she’s back and playing well,” Swiatek commented after extending her Roland Garros winning streak to 16 matches, continuing her quest for a third consecutive title.
Osaka, visibly emotional after the match, showed glimpses of her big-hitting best, despite ultimately letting a 5-2 lead in the final set slip away. The match saw a back-and-forth battle under the closed roof of Court Philippe Chatrier, with rain forcing the postponement of 23 other singles matches. The engaged, if sparse, crowd frequently shifted their support between the two players, leading to admonishments from chair umpire Aurélie Tourte and a request from Swiatek for spectators to cheer between rallies, not during them.
Osaka served for the match at 5-3 in the final set but faltered, hitting a backhand into the net on match point. Swiatek capitalized on her 10th break point of the set and ultimately gained control as Osaka’s errors, including a crucial double-fault, mounted.
Despite the loss, this was Osaka’s best performance since her return to the tour in January after a 15-month hiatus to become a mother. Her powerful serves, reaching up to 122 mph, and aggressive groundstrokes were on full display, winning 82 of 139 points (59%) that lasted four strokes or fewer and finishing with a 54-37 advantage in winners.
Osaka exhibited familiar competitive behaviors, including fist pumps and shouts of “Come on!” She dominated the second set and built significant leads in the third, but Swiatek’s consistency and mental fortitude prevailed in the end.
Swiatek admitted to struggling mentally during the match but relied on her experience to navigate through tough moments. She continues her impressive form on clay, having won titles in Madrid and Rome earlier this month, a feat last accomplished by Serena Williams in 2013.
For Osaka, this match marked progress on clay, a surface where she has historically struggled. Despite the loss, she showed she could compete against top-10 opponents, having not achieved such a win since January 2020.
Swiatek now advances, aiming to become the first woman since Justine Henin (2007-09) to win three consecutive French Open titles.
On the men's side, Carlos Alcaraz overcame a challenging match against 176th-ranked Jesper de Jong, rallying from a set and break down to win 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
Other notable results included victories for Sofia Kenin, Ons Jabeur, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, moved into the third round with a win over 21st-seeded Caroline Garcia, while Jabeur and Tsitsipas also advanced despite rain-disrupted schedules.
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