The defending champion just about avoids an early exit – but not against just anyone. Iga Swiatek has to fight hard against Naomi Osaka and also fend off a match point
Tournament favorite Iga Swiatek had to fight hard to avoid an early exit at the French Open in a second-round thriller against Japan’s tennis star Naomi Osaka. The 22-year-old Polish player prevailed 7:6 (7:1), 1:6, 7:5 in a dramatic and at times high-class match. The defending champion fought back from 2:5 down in the third set and also fought off a match point.
“Naomi played incredible tennis and took a lot of risks. Maybe she’ll become a clay court specialist,” said Swiatek: “I’m happy that she’s back and playing so well.”
Osaka (26), who was back in the second round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since her return from maternity leave, was at least on a par with Swiatek. But after just under three hours, she ended the match on Court Philippe Chatrier with a backhand error
Osaka currently only number 134 in the world
The clash between the two four-time Grand Slam tournament winners lived up to tennis fans’ expectations from the outset. Osaka, currently only ranked 134th in the world, took the initiative after narrowly losing the first set and put Swiatek under pressure with her powerful and precise strokes. The Polish player almost completely lost her rhythm at times, but in the end proved to have stronger nerves than her opponent.
Swiatek is the absolute title favorite after her triumphs at the Masters 1000 tournaments on clay in Madrid and Rome. She has already won the tournament at Stade Roland Garros in 2020, 2022 and 2023
